The Pittsburgh Penguins will soon run out of roster space, which means something has to give.
Matt Nieto is that something — or someone — as he was placed on waivers Wednesday, as pointed out by Elliotte Friedman of NHL Network. The NHL only allows teams to keep 23 players on the roster through the trade deadline, a number that will be exceeded once both Bryan Rust and Boko Imama return from injured reserve.
Nieto, 32, has played in just 31 games this season. The Penguins hoped he would provide speed and scoring, but recent knee surgeries seem to have hindered his skating ability as he scored a total of three points across his stint with the club. Pittsburgh primarily kept him on the fourth line, though he was used in a penalty-killing role.
Nieto is in the final season of a two-year contract he signed with the Penguins, and if he goes unclaimed, could be assigned to AHL-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Pittsburgh currently has one open roster spot.
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