Penguins Sign Luke Richardson To PTO

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed goaltender Luke Richardson to a professional try-out agreement, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports. Rorabaugh points out that Kain Tisi – the current goalie coach of the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – during his time with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

Richardson, 25, is five years removed from his years in Kitchener, since spending three years at Queens University, signing with the AHL’s Belleville Senators at the tail-end of the 2022-23 season. That made last year Richardson’s first full pro season, though he only managed to slot into 12 games for the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits. However, he won in seven of those appearances, while saving 298 of the 320 shots he faced (.931). That’s a strong way to start a career and continues Richardson’s reliability from college. He posted a combined .922 save percentage through 62 games and three seasons, per HockeyDB.

Richardson will now look to truly sink his teeth into a pro career under his former coach. He’ll step into a crowded Penguins goaltending room – joining Joel Blomqvist, Sergei Murashov, Taylor Gauthier, and Filip Larsson in the fight for AHL ice time. Winning out minutes over that bunch could be difficult, though even a full season as the ECHL backup could provide Richardson with an uptick in games. He’s stood tall in his pro appearances so far and may even end up a surprise of training camp if he stays locked in.