PENGUINS RE-SIGN JEFF TAFFE

WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Jeff Taffe to a one-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ray Shero. 

Taffe, 27, played 45 games for the Penguins during the 2007-08 season, scoring 12 points (five goals, seven assists) along with eight penalty minutes.  He made his season debut with the team on December 20th vs. the Boston Bruins.  Taffe scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win vs. the Montreal Canadiens on January 19th.  He registered a four-game point streak from February 23rd to February 28th, scoring five points (two goals, three assists).  Taffe matched a career-high with two points (one goal, one assist) on February 26th vs. the New York Islanders.

Taffe posted 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 27 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), which was leading the team at the time of his recall to Pittsburgh.  Taffe was signed as a free agent by the Penguins on July 13th, 2007.

The 6-3, 208-pound forward has registered 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 145 career games in the NHL split between the Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, and the New York Rangers.  The native of Hastings, Minnesota was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (30th overall) of the 2000 NHL Draft.

PENGUINS RE-SIGN FILEWICH AND BISSONNETTE

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Jonathan Filewich to a two-year contract and re-signed defenseman Paul Bissonnette to a one-year contract, it was announced today by Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher. 

Filewich, 23, made his NHL debut on January 21st vs. the Washington Capitals and played a total of five games with the Penguins.  He recorded 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) and 44 penalty minutes in 71 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).  Filewich registered a career high three assists in a 4-1 win vs. Bridgeport on March 14th.  He scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 14 playoff games as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton advance to the AHL Calder Cup Finals.

The 6-2, 208-pound native of Kelowna, British Columbia has played three seasons in the AHL posting 123 points (62 goals, 61 assists) in 224 games.  He was selected to play in the 2007 AHL All-Star Game and won the fastest skater event during the AHL All-Star Skills Competition.  Filewich was originally selected by the Penguins in the third round (70th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft.

Bissonnette, 23, posted eight points (three goals, five assists) along with 145 penalty minutes in 46 contests with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2007-08 regular season.  He also appeared in 22 games with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, scoring 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and 43 penalty minutes.

The 6-3, 220-pound defenseman has registered 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and 211 penalty minutes in 104 career games in the AHL.  Bissonnette has combined for 69 points (16 goals, 53 assists) and 162 penalty minutes in 101 total games in the ECHL.  The native of Welland, Ontario was originally drafted by the Penguins in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft.

Season ticket packages for the 2008-09 season of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey are on sale now, and available by contacting the Penguins’ ticketing office at 570-208-7367.