* Pittsburgh have signed defenseman Sergei Gonchar to a professional tryout contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford. Gonchar, 41, originally spent five seasons in Pittsburgh from 2005-10, helping the team win its third Stanley Cup championship in 2009 and also make a Cup Final appearance in ’08. During the ’09 championship run, he contributed 14 points (3G-11A) and was plus-3 in 22 playoff contests.
* The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman is currently the sixth-highest scoring blueliner in Penguins history, having compiled 54 goals, 205 assists and 259 points in 322 regular-season games. Gonchar has added 44 points (7G-37A) in 60 playoff games. Only Larry Murphy and Kris Letang have more postseason points in club history.
* A native of Chelyabinsk, Russia, Gonchar surpassed the 50-point mark in each of his four full seasons in Pittsburgh (he was hurt for a majority of the ’08-09 regular season). He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 2008 when he ranked second among NHL D-men with 65 points (12G-53A).
During his final four seasons with Pittsburgh, Gonchar served as one of the club’s alternate captains.
* Gonchar has skated in 1,301 career NHL games with Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Dallas and Montreal, compiling 220 goals, 591 assists and 811 points. He has 90 points (22G-68A) in 141 playoff games.
Gonchar’s 811 points lead all active NHL defensemen, while his 1,301 games place fifth. He currently ranks 17th all-time among NHL blueliners in both assists and points.
* Gonchar originally broke into the NHL with the Washington Capitals during the 1994-95 season after being selected by the club in the first round (14th overall) in the 1992 NHL Draft. During back-to-back seasons with the Capitals in ’01-02 and ’02-03, Gonchar led all NHL defensemen in goals with 26 and 18, respectively. His 59 points in ’01-02 also paced all D-men. He earned NHL Second-Team All-Star status both years.
* Last season, Gonchar began the year in Dallas before spending a majority of the campaign with Montreal. He had 14 points (1G-13A) in 48 games.
The Russia native has represented his country on numerous occasions internationally, including four Olympic Games. He won a silver medal in the ’98 Games and a bronze in ’02. Gonchar has also won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship and a bronze medal in the ’07 World Championship. He also suited up in the 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
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