Penguins/NHL category, Page 94
Penguins’ trade lands defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from CanucksVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover on Tuesday. Rathbone, 24, was a fourth-round selection (No. 95 overall) of the Canucks in 2017 and has spent the past four seasons with that...
Defenseman Libor Hajek signs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed defenseman Libor Hajek to an American Hockey League contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. That transaction was announced via a release Tuesday. Hajek, 25, attended the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp in September and October on a professional tryout contract but did not receive a...
Former Penguins defenseman Scott Harrington signs in Switzerland
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Scott Harrington has joined the ZSC Lions of the National League in Switzerland. That team announced it signed Harrington to a contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season on Tuesday via a release. Harrington, 30, was a second-round pick (No. 54 overall) of the Penguins...
Mark Madden: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang provide needed synergy for Penguins
So far, so good for the Penguins. Well, except for that opening-night debacle vs. Chicago, a sure-shot draft lottery team. But two out of three ain’t bad. MA! THE MEAT LOAF! The most encouraging development might be the synergy between defensemen Kris Letang and new boy Erik Karlsson. They will...
Penguins forward Lars Eller remains the pride of Denmark
On the scant occasions the Penguins have a practice session at their facility in Cranberry on a Sunday, they are typically sparsely attended. Especially when it’s football season. That’s to say most folks in Western Pennsylvania would rather worry about their fantasy football teams instead of watching the Penguins fine...
Tim Benz: Former Penguin’s daughter continues Pittsburgh hockey connection at Robert Morris
When Wayne Primeau was a Pittsburgh Penguin, he was part of one of the all-time memorable playoff runs in Penguins’ history. Acquired in February 2001, he was on the team during the Johan Hedberg “Moose Mania” trip to the Eastern Conference Final during Mario Lemieux’s return season. “He was a...
Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph and family star in national car commercialVideo
P.O Joseph might not be the most prominent name on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster. But the left-handed defenseman is the only member of the team who endorses a major automotive brand and even has a national commercial. Up north. Last week, Hyundai Canada began airing an advertisement that features Joseph...
Penguins winger Reilly Smith quickly connects with Evgeni Malkin on 2nd lineVideo
As the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the third period Friday against Washington, both analytical data and observations made by the naked eye suggested forward Reilly Smith was due for a goal. The 32-year-old winger had wasted little time in appearing to mesh with linemates Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell, resulting in...
Backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic leads Penguins past Flames in 1st game
Wanting to fortify their goaltending depth this past offseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins took a chance on Alex Nedeljkovic, signing him to a one-year contract in July worth a frugal – by NHL standards - $1.5 million. Once a promising starter who had struggled in recent seasons, management hoped Nedeljkovic would...
Minor league report: Penguins dropped by CheckersVideo
In his regular season debut, goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 21 saves on 24 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-1 road loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday. Forward Colin White scored the lone goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-1-0-0). Highlights: The Penguins’ next game...
Penguins to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic against Flames
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to make his debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in Saturday’s home game against the Calgary Flames at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status approximately two hours before the game. A free agent signing this past offseason, Nedeljkovic played in three games during...
Defenseman Ryan Shea enjoying fresh start with Penguins
Saturday represented something of a milestone for Pittsburgh Penguins reserve defenseman Ryan Shea. It was his fifth day on the NHL roster, a new career high for existing at the sport’s highest level. During his previous stint with the Dallas Stars, he hadn’t been on that club’s NHL roster for...
Minor league report: Penguins open season with win against CheckersVideo
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins opened their season with a 4-2 road win against the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday. Goaltender Magnus Hellberg made 26 saves on 28 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while forwards Jonathan Gruden and Austin Rueschhoff as well as defensemen Xavier Ouellet and Dmitri...
Tristan Jarry, Penguins shut out Capitals for bounce-back victory
Lars Eller is a member of a unique — and, more accurately, obscure — fraternity of 19 players who have been teammates with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and his counterpart with the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin. The sturdy third-line center who scored the championship-clinching goal that led to the...
Following Pride tape ban by NHL, Penguins players weigh options, show LGBTQ+ support
Last week, the NHL circulated a memo to all 32 clubs outlining regulations for theme celebrations this season, specifically regarding player uniforms and gear. It ruled that for theme nights such as Hockey Fights Cancer, military appreciation celebrations or Pride, on-ice player uniforms and gear cannot be altered. Included in...
Rivalry with Capitals serves as backdrop to Penguins’ 1st crack at Metropolitan foe
When the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the playoffs last year, an abundant number of contributing factors hinted at why that was the case. Inconsistent goaltending, an under-achieving power play and bottom six, the inability to protect leads, etc. — the club’s deficiencies were well-documented. Also prominent on the shortlist...
U mad, bro?: When Penguins fans are openly heckling Steelers coaches, you know things are at a boiling point
The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the worst 3-2 team in the history of the NFL. The Penguins blew a two-goal lead in their home opener. And the Steelers offensive coordinator is apparently getting booed everywhere in the 412 and 724 area codes. So, as you may be able to assume,...
Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson continues to grow
Late in the 2021-22 season, defenseman Marcus Pettersson experienced something new in his existence with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A healthy scratch. For a handful of games down the stretch, Pettersson was swapped in and out of the lineup in favor of reserve defenseman Mark Friedman. “Once you’re out of the...
Forget Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, here’s Pittsburgh’s athlete/celebrity romance history
The sports and celebrity headlines have been filled with the news of a budding romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But Pittsburgh is no stranger when it comes to its athletes romancing celebrities. One Steelers player married an Olympic figure skater, while...
Mark Madden: Plenty of others to blame for Penguins’ opening night loss besides Tristan Jarry
We’re in the era of predetermined blame. No matter what goes wrong with the Steelers, it’s Matt Canada’s fault. The head coach can be a fraud, the quarterback can stink, but everything bad is the offensive coordinator’s fault. You don’t like him in the first place. (More on Canada later.)...
Tim Benz: Old storylines emerge in season-opening loss for ‘whole new group’ of Penguins
So the Chicago Blackhawks came to Pittsburgh and spoiled a Penguins party. If Mike Lange was still doing play-by-play, this would be a perfect spot to drop in, “I’ve seen that fish before.” There was one significant difference between the Blackhawks winning 5-2 at PPG Paints Arena in the Pens’...
Erik Karlsson’s regular-season debut with Penguins a mixed bagVideo
In his first regular-season game with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Erik Karlsson led his new club in ice time (26 minutes, 4 seconds), manned the point on the top power-play unit and had a number of offensive moments befitting his reputation. He also was on the ice for three...
Penguins give up 4 unanswered goals, drop opener to Blackhawks
Rickard Rakell looked around the dressing room and shook his head, almost in disbelief. When asked about the menagerie of stars assembled by the Pittsburgh Penguins, including himself, he preached patience. And plenty of optimism. “It’s going to take a little bit of time to get adjusted to,” the All-Star...
Joining Penguins ‘a blessing’ for defenseman John Ludvig
Somewhere between the Florida-Georgia line and the Piedmont of North Carolina, John Ludvig received a change in his itinerary Monday. One of the final cuts from the Florida Panthers’ training camp roster, Ludvig was en route to join their American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and then found out...
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby ready for another ‘next’ one in Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard
Sidney Crosby has seen this before. For the past 18 seasons, he has witnessed it. And 18 years ago, he lived it. Being the “next” one. The latest claimant to that designation, Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard, made his NHL debut in front of a national television audience Tuesday in...
