Penguins place 6 players on waivers

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed six players on waivers Thursday.

That group includes:

Forwards — Danton Heinen, Joona Koppanen, Valtteri Puustinen

Defensemen — Sebastian Aho, Phil Kemp

Goaltender — Filip Larsson

If all six go unclaimed by another NHL club by 2 p.m. Friday, they can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

• Heinen, 30, has the most NHL service of the sextet, having skated in 566 career games over nine seasons.

During the 2024-25 campaign, he appeared in 28 games for the Penguins and posted 11 points (three goals, eight assists).

This preseason, he has appeared in four games and has no points on three shots.

A left-handed shot who can play either wing, Heinen is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.25 million.

• Puustinen, 26, is entering his fifth season with the organization. Last season, he played in 13 NHL contests and scored three points (two goals, one assist).

A steady offensive producer at the AHL level, he also skated in 48 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and posted 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists).

This preseason, Puustinen recorded two assists in three games while generating one shot.

A right-handed shot, Puustinen is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.

• Koppanen, 27, re-signed with the club this past offseason, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.

Last season, he skated in 11 NHL games and scored one goal (the first of his career).

Primarily stationed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2024-25, Koppanen collected 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 56 AHL games.

This preseason, the left-hander skated in three games and recorded an assist and one shot.

• Aho, 29, has played in two preseason games and has no points on one shot.

Last season, Aho spent virtually the entire campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, appearing in 27 games and posting 14 assists.

A left-handed defenseman who can play either side of the blue line, Aho is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.

• Larsson, 27, appeared in a single game this preseason. Without recording a result, he stopped eight of nine shots.

During the 2024-25 campaign, Larsson played exclusively for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Appearing in a team-leading 26 games, he posted a 12-9-3 record, a 2.84 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and a team-best five shutouts.

Larsson is entering the final year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.

• Kemp, 26, is a newcomer to the Penguins, having signed a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000 this past offseason.

Last season, Kemp played exclusively at the AHL level with the Bakersfield Condors, appearing in 56 games and posting 12 points (seven goals, five assists).

A right-handed shot, Kemp has appeared in one game this preseason with no points and two shots.

The NHL’s deadline to submit a finalized season-opening roster compliant with the league limit of 23 active players is 5 p.m. Monday.

The Penguins still have 47 players in training camp, including the six on waivers and eight injured players.