Penguins assign defensemen Mark Friedman, Ty Smith to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins got themselves compliant with the NHL’s salary cap Sunday evening, just less than 24 hours before the league’s deadline.
Defensemen Mark Friedman and Ty Smith were assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Friedman’s assignment came a few hours after he cleared waivers at 2 p.m.
As for Smith, he does not require waivers for any assignments to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as he is entering the final year of a three-year entry-level contract.
According to Cap Friendly, the Penguins entered the day $1,555,175 above the NHL’s salary cap ceiling of $82.5 million. Following these transactions, they are $83,158 below that limit.
Friedman is entering the first year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000, and Smith’s deal carries an average annual value of $863,333.
These assignments are hardly permanent, however. Especially in Smith’s case.
Acquired via trade from the New Jersey Devils in July, Smith largely has been deployed as one of the team’s top-six defensemen in training camp and the preseason, manning the left side of the third pairing alongside right-hander Jan Rutta.
Another transaction — such as a trade — could open up space to recall Smith and reinstall him on the third pair.
Other reserve defensemen such as P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel remain on the roster and would require waivers for such a transaction.
As for Friedman, the right-hander remains in the organization, even if that means being sent to Northeast Pennsylvania.
“I had a good conversation with (Friedman on Saturday),” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We have so much respect for him as a player and a person and what he brings to our team. The challenge we have is we feel as though we have nine NHL defensemen. That’s the hard part. It’s a good challenge to have because it suggests that we’re deep with NHL defensemen. But it’s difficult. The decisions are difficult.
“(Friedman), he understands. He gets it. … We try to be honest with them and straightforward with them and explain the whys.”
Friedman did not participate in practice Sunday morning in Cranberry as he waited to see if he would clear waivers.
Following Sunday’s transactions, the Penguins’ roster has 22 players, one under the regular-season limit of 23.
Blueger comes back (to practice)
Injured forward Teddy Blueger participated in practice Sunday at the team’s facility in Cranberry. Wearing a white noncontact jersey, Blueger practiced for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury during a practice session Sept. 28.
Blueger was hesitant to explain the nature of his ailment or to speculate if he would be able to play in the season opener, a home contest against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
“We’ve got to talk about it still and see what the medical staff thinks,” Blueger said. “It’s a very day-to-day process right now.”
On Sunday, Blueger worked as the fourth-line center with Brock McGinn at left wing and Josh Archibald at right wing.
A common experience for Sullivan
In their 38-3 road loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a major lineup decision by starting rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett after benching incumbent Mitch Trubisky last week.
Sullivan has had similar experiences at a position with arguably just as much significance in hockey, the goaltender.
During his tenure with the Penguins, Sullivan has had to switch between the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry.
On Sunday, he was asked to explain the gravity of such a decision for a coach.
“I think it’s one of the hardest parts of our job because those usually entail really difficult decisions,” he said. “My experience, it’s been some of the most difficult decisions that I’ve had to make over the course of my time. It affects people, it affects players, it affects the group, the team, the team dynamic. There’s a lot that goes into those types of decisions.
“It’s one of the more difficult parts of being a head coach.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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