The Penguins have designated forward Danton Heinen as “non-roster” and placed him on waivers at 2 p.m. Sunday.
That maneuver allowed the team clear space on the roster to activate forward Blake Lizotte from injured reserve.
Should Heinen go unclaimed by the NHL’s 31 other teams by 2 p.m. Monday, he can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).
This will mark the second time Heinen has gone through waivers. The first occasion was Oct. 2. After clearing, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
At the AHL level, Heinen has been productive as he has generated 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 12 games while largely inhabiting a role among the team’s top-six forwards.
With the NHL club, Heinen has predominantly been relegated to a bottom-six role. In 13 NHL games, he has scored two points (one goal, one assist) while averaging 11:40 of ice time per contest.
Heinen, 30, is in the final year of a contract carrying an average annual value of $2.25 million. With an assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, $1.15 million of his salary cap hit will come off the books for the NHL club per league rules.
Lizotte has missed the past nine games due to an undisclosed injury.
Primarily deployed as the fourth-line center and the penalty kill, Lizotte has skated in 27 games this season and has scored five points (three goals, two assists) while averaging 13:57 of ice time per contest, including 2:32 on the penalty kill.
These transactions were made in advance of a road contest against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday evening.
