Taylor Pyatt (right) will oppose his former team tomorrow as a new member of the Pens after being claimed.

Taylor Pyatt was waived by the Rangers. Signed by Glen Sather in the summer of 2012, the veteran forward saw his role diminish under new coach Alain Vigneault.

After registering six goals and five assists for 11 points in all 48 games last season, the 32-year old Thunder Bay, Ontario native struggled totaling one assist in 22 contests. After missing eight games due to a concussion, he hardly played. Pyatt was a healthy scratch the last eight and sat out nine of his final 10 as a Ranger.

Fortunately, he was claimed by the Pens. Ironically, that’s the Rangers’ next opponent tomorrow when they visit the Steel City. Go figure. For Pyatt, he goes from a fourth place team a couple of points out of the playoffs to the top team in the East. A playoff lock, Pittsburgh leads the Metro with 59 points. Fourteen clear of Washington. Fifteen better than Philadelphia and 17 more than the Devils and Rangers. With Pascal Dupuis lost for the season, the Pens needed forward help. Pyatt can help them depth wise.

As for his stay on Broadway, it was about what was expected. Let’s face it. Sather had an awful 2012. After letting Brandon Prust, Ruslan Fedotenko and John Mitchell go, three of his replacements are either gone or in Hartford. That includes Arron Asham, who’s played all of two games in New York this year while spending the majority with the Wolf Pack. Jeff Halpern plays for Phoenix.

A former Islanders’ 1999 first round pick, Pyatt joins his sixth NHL roster. He’s also played for Buffalo, Vancouver and Phoenix. In 825 career games, he’s totaled 136 goals and 140 assists for 276 points.