Overview
- The Penguins, who announced the move Friday through GM Kyle Dubas, signed the 21-year-old to a two-year entry-level contract that begins immediately with him reporting to Pittsburgh.
- Because NCAA free agents who sign after the trade deadline are not on a team’s reserve list, Livanavage cannot be sent to the AHL or used in the playoffs but can play in the Penguins’ final regular-season games.
- Contract terms reported by PuckPedia include a prorated $975,000 cap hit, a $97,500 signing bonus, a prorated $877,500 salary, up to $250,000 in performance bonuses, and an $85,000 AHL salary in future seasons.
- Livanavage produced at least 25 points in each of three seasons at North Dakota, totaled 82 points in 117 games, logged heavy minutes, and on Friday was named to the CCM/AHCA All-America West First Team.
- Scouts project the 5-foot-10, puck-moving left shot as a bottom-pair candidate and power-play option, adding to Pittsburgh’s thin left-side pipeline while North Dakota faces turnover on defense with multiple departures.