The Florida Panthers, parent club of the AHL’s Rochester Ameicans, have signed defenseman Paul Baier to a one-year American Hockey League contract.
Baier, 25, enters his third professional season in 2010-11 after skating all of the 2009-10 campaign with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. In 62 games with the B-Sens last season, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound blueliner scored two goals and added eight assists for 10 points along with 49 penalty minutes. He was named Binghamton’s AHL Man of the Year for his dedicated service to the community.
The Summit, N.J., native posted his best pro season in 2008-09 with the Portland Pirates, capturing career-highs in goals (three), assists (eight), points (11), penalty minutes (67) and games played (62). He also appeared in three postseason contests for the Pirates.
Originally a third-round pick (95th overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Baier made his professional debut with Rochester at the close of the 2007-08 season, collecting four points (1g, 3a) and five penalty minutes in nine games with the Amerks.
In his pro career, Baier has amassed 25 points (6+19) and 121 penalty minutes in 133 AHL games with Rochester, Portland and Binghamton.
Prior to turning pro, Baier played four seasons (2004-08) at Brown University, where he compiled 28 points in 125 career games.
