Penguins Sign Center Primeau to New Contract Thursday August 30, 2001 6:08 PM PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins signed free-agent center Wayne Primeau to a new contract Thursday. Primeau, 25, earned $575,000 last season and was eligible for salary arbitration but didn't file because his agent Don Reynolds said several weeks ago that he was close to striking a deal. The Penguins didn't release contract terms and Reynolds declined comment Thursday, saying he was asked by the team not to discuss what he described only as a long-term deal. Reynolds said Primeau's wife gave birth to their first child, a boy, prematurely this summer, so Primeau was more concerned than he might otherwise be about long-term security. Primeau had one goal and six assists in 28 games for the Penguins last season after he was acquired from Tampa Bay on Feb. 1 for Matthew Barnaby. Primeau had two goals and 13 assists in 47 games for the Lightning before the trade. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has 24 goals, 47 assists and 370 penalty minutes in 317 games with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.
