Pittsburgh Penguins Place Veteran Forward On Waivers

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed forward Matt Nieto on waivers.

Nieto (PIT) on waivers
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 26, 2025

Nieto, 32, has appeared in 31 games this season with the Penguins, where he has one goal, two assists, 38 hits, and a minus-8 rating. This is after he had one goal and four points in 22 games with the Penguins this past season.

Nieto's waiver placement comes with him being in the middle of a serious scoring drought. The Long Beach, California native has gone without a point in 15 consecutive games with the Penguins. In addition, he has not scored a goal in 21 straight contests.

While it has been a tough season for Nieto offensively, a team looking for more forward depth could consider claiming him. His experience, ability to kill penalties, and high-energy style of play could get the attention of another team. However, if he goes unclaimed, he will be heading to the American Hockey League (AHL) to play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In 704 NHL games over 12 seasons split between the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, and Penguins, Nieto has 87 goals, 119 assists, 206 points, and 434 hits. It will be fascinating to see if another team takes a shot on him from here.

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