Penguins A to Z: Justin Almeida rebounds from shoulder surgery

While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 54 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.

Player: Justin Almeida

Position: Left winger

Shoots: Left

Age: 21

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 165 pounds

2019-20 AHL statistics: Nine games, one point (one goal)

2019-20 ECHL statistics: 37 games, 16 points (five goals, 11 assists)

Contract: First year of a three-year entry-level contract, $809,166 cap hit.

Acquired: Fifth-round selection (No. 129) overall in 2018 draft

This season: Generally speaking, unless you are a goaltender, if you spend any significant length of time in the ECHL, that does not bode well for your future as an NHLer.

After posting monster numbers (111 points in 64 games) in his last year of junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors in 2018-19, Almeida’s first year of pro hockey has not been nearly as successful, especially coming off offseason surgery on his left shoulder. Having spent the majority of 2019-20 with the Wheeling Nailers, Almeida’s numbers have been limited, to be kind, at that level.

While playing in the ECHL is hardly ideal, it is better than being a regular scratch in the AHL, as was the case for 12 of a possible 19 games at the start of the season before he as assigned to Wheeling on Nov. 25. Almeida was recalled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on March 7 and appeared in two games before the AHL halted play.

The future: Even if it hasn’t translated to production at the professional level, Almeida still has soft hands and can be a creative playmaker. He needs to ramp things up physically, however, in terms of adding muscle (assuming his shoulder has healed) as well with regard to his style of play.

Follow the Penguins all season long.