After helping bring the Calder Cup back to Hershey, Jimmy Huntington has earned an NHL contract, but with the Washington Capitals’ biggest rival.
The Bears’ second-line center signed a one-year, $775k contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on the first day of free agency, becoming the first Hershey Bears’ 2024 championship player to leave the team. Huntington was previously signed to an AHL-only contract with Hershey.
The Penguins have signed forward Jimmy Huntington on a one-year contract.
The contract will run through the 2024.25 campaign and carries an average annual value of $775,000 million at the NHL level.
Details: https://t.co/3w20qwuN4i pic.twitter.com/wIJt69CneC
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 1, 2024
Huntington, a beloved veteran presence for the Bears, had 33 points (16g, 17a) in 67 games during the regular season. After a slow start in the playoffs, he finished with 14 points (5g, 9a) in 20 AHL postseason games, including six points (3g, 3a) in six Calder Cup Finals matchups against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. His line with wingers Pierrick Dube and Alex Limoges was ultimately the difference-maker in the finals as the three players combined for 8 goals. Huntington scored twice in a pivotal Game 5 in Coachella Valley, including a buzzer-beater as the first period ended.
The 25-year-old Huntington spent his four prior seasons playing for the Milwaukee Admirals and Syracuse Crunch, notching 113 points (43g, 70a) in 240 AHL games.
The Laval, Quebec native was signed into the NHL as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 1, 2019. After that deal was up, he signed a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators for the 2022-23 season before landing in Hershey and winning his first championship.
Thanks for all the good times, Jimmy, and good luck in the future.
You'll always be a Calder Cup Champion, @huntington_jim! Thanks for everything you did on and off the ice in Hershey. Best of luck with the Pens. pic.twitter.com/djXnS1iQeX
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) July 1, 2024
Here’s the full press release from the Pittsburgh Penguins:
Penguins Sign Forward Jimmy Huntington on a One-Year Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Jimmy Huntington on a one-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
The contract will run through the 2024-25 campaign and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.
Huntington, 25, spent the 2023-24 season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He played in 67 games and totaled 33 points (16G-17A). The forward recorded 14 points (5G-9A) in 20 AHL playoff games to help the Bears win a Calder Cup Championship.
The 6-foot, 201-pound [forward] has spent parts of the last five seasons in the AHL with Hershey, Syracuse and Milwaukee, playing in 240 games and recording 113 points (43G-70A). He played 17 games in two seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, totaling 12 points (5G-7A).
