As the NHL prepares for a new season scheduled to start in mid-January, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 48 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.

Sam Miletic

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 23

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 196 pounds

2019-20 AHL statistics: 62 games, 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists)

Contract: One-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $710,000. Pending restricted free agent in 2022

Acquired: Undrafted free agent signing, Sept. 25, 2017

Last season: Sam Miletic was arguably the steadiest, most reliable presence in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ lineup in 2019-20.

Appearing in a team-leading 62 games (out of a possible 63), Miletic was there almost every night through the various injuries, recalls, personnel changes and other absences that pockmarked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s mostly unremarkable season.

As a result, Miletic was selected to the American Hockey League’s all-star game as a replacement for forward Andrew Agozzino who was on one of many recalls to the NHL roster in January.

By the time the AHL’s 2019-20 season came to a halt in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, Miletic was working the left wing of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top line. He also enjoyed some time on the top power-play unit throughout the season.

A lot of his offense in those situations came on second-chance opportunities such as re-directions or rebounds.

Despite such optimal deployment, Miletic produced only one goal in his final 27 games of the season.

While averaging just north of half a point per contest in the AHL is hardly a noteworthy accomplishment, just the simple fact Miletic was in the lineup for nearly the entire season was a positive step forward for a player who was limited to 49 games in 2018-19 because of a shoulder injury.

When the NHL resumed play for a postseason tournament this past summer, Miletic was part of the Penguins’ training camp in July but was not included for the playoff roster in August.

After his entry-level contract expired this offseason, Miletic was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract Oct. 17.

The future: Miletic is part of the Penguins’ roster for training camp that opened Sunday. With the NHL mandating all teams carry four to six players for a taxi squad for the 2020-21 season, he is a candidate to earn a role with that group. And given the extraordinary circumstances this upcoming season will be played under with regard to the pandemic, the notion of Miletic actually dressing for an NHL game isn’t outlandish.

Additionally, with former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach and general manager Mike Vellucci now an assistant coach in Pittsburgh, Miletic will have someone familiar with him willing to make a case for him to be considered for that unit.

A prolific scorer at the junior level, Miletic doesn’t have the talent to duplicate those results at the professional level. As a result, he has adapted more of a basic, two-way game since joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2018.

Miletic is far from being the Penguins’ top prospect. But he might be their most steady. And, as a result, he finally has a shot at making the NHL.

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