Brookbank, Smith sign with Penguins - 7-31-09

The Penguins have signed former Hurricanes forward Wade Brookbank (above, with former Flyers forward Josh Gratton) and former Avalanche forward Wyatt Smith to one-year contracts. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Brookbank, 31, spent 27 games with the Hurricanes last season recording one goal and 40 penalty minutes. He was sent to the Lightning in a deal that brought playoff hero Jussi Jokinen for the Hurricanes. Brookbank spent the rest of the season with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL.

This will be the second go-around for Brookbank, 31, in the Penguins' organization he spent 39 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2006-07 season.

Smith, 32, spent all of last season in the AHL splitting time between the Norfolk Admirals and San Antonio Rampage, affiliates of the Lightning and Coyotes respectively. He had 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists).

Smith last played in the NHL when he played in 25 games with the Avalanche in 2007-08 and recorded three assists.

EN Says:  Brookbank, 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, is a borderline NHLer who has little skill other than as a fighter.

Smith is also a borderline NHL talent who has struggled to stay out of the AHL throughout his career. He's a player with some defensive abilities but he offers little in terms of offense. Both of these signings are meant to fill out the AHL roster.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)