Former 1st-Round Pick Signs PTO In Effort To Return To NHL

A 10-year NHL veteran with over 500 games under his belt will have to try to fight his way back to the top level with his second PTO of the fall. After his first one with the Pittsburgh Penguins ended in injury in September, Mark Pysyk will now try again with their American Hockey League affiliate. He has signed a professional tryout contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Mark Pysyk has signed a pro tryout agreement with WBS. The veteran defenseman is working his way back from injury and is definitely someone to monitor.

— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) November 2, 2023

The 31-year-old right-shot D-man missed the entire 2022-23 season after originally signing with the Detroit Red Wings, due to a torn Achilles. His PTO this fall with the Penguins was cut short in late September with a lower-body injury that was described at the time as “longer term”. 

He has spent five of his 10 seasons in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, four years with the Florida Panthers and one season with the Dallas Stars.

He was the Sabres' first-round pick (23rd overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft.

Pysyk has recorded 28 goals and 76 assists for 104 points in his 521 NHL games, averaging 17 minutes per contest. 

Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports