The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed depth forward Bokondji Imama to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a league-minimum $775K salary at the NHL level. Imama split the 2024-25 season between the NHL and AHL rosters, and appeared in a career-high 16 games with the Pittsburgh lineup.
Imama blazed his style at the top flight this season. After years of establishing himself as a minor-league bruiser, he showed the control needed to maintain that title at the top level – with 30 penalty minutes and a plus-two in his NHL appearances. He also chipped in 47 penalty minutes and a minus-one in 24 AHL games – a modest total relative to seasons past. Imama led the Belleville Senators in PIMs last season, with 115 through 53 appearances. He held the same title with the 2021-22 Tucson Roadrunners, where he racked up a daunting 178 PIMs in 54 games played.
Through eight seasons in the AHL, Imama has averaged just over nine points a year. He’s a low-scoring, low-minutes depth forward with the smooth skating and pest tendencies to continue finding work at a pro level. A one-year deal will keep him in Pittsburgh’s depth charts as the team looks to move into a new era, with a much younger lineup. That fact could earn Imama even more ice time at the NHL level next season, though any minutes are likely to come in an extra-forward role.
Why?
Because he earned it. His hustle was welcome, and he did a pretty solid job as a 4th line grinder type. He was also maybe the only guy on the team willing to stick up for teammates, and he seemed to have a good sense of when to pick his spots to get physical.
This is the kind of player that fans love far in excess of his skill and impact. Provides some market appeal for a bad team.
Good for him! He has really changed and grown his game since he was drafted!
This guy is an absolute clown. Not like the Pens will be competitive any time soon anyway.
Not so sure about that. Guys don’t magically just figure out how not to be goons (see: Wilson, Tom).
Are you referring to 33-goal scorer Tom Wilson?
Yeah, nobody “learns” self-control as they get older. That’s why I never bothered to correct or “parent” my kids!
Would be a good 4th liner for us
Why not, his name is fun to say too. These are the kind of players the Penguins need in lineup to expedite the rebuild, fun to watch and will never score. lol. Love the guy.