The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled defenseman Taylor Fedun from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
Appearing in 30 AHL games this season, Fedun has two assists.
A free-agent signing in the 2021 offseason, the 34-year-old Fedun has served as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s captain for each of the past two seasons. This is his third recall to the NHL level with the organization, though he has yet to appear in a game for Pittsburgh.
His two previous recalls each took place last season.
The right-handed Fedun’s most recent NHL action came in the form of 27 games and nine points (two goals, seven assists) with the Dallas Stars in 2019-20.
Fedun was not present for Thursday’s practice at PPG Paints Arena.
A day prior, defenseman Mark Friedman was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after being a healthy scratch for the three previous games with Pittsburgh.
“We’re reluctant to have anyone on the sidelines for any length of time,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’re trying to get them game action. We all feel that’s an important aspect of continuing to develop and keeping everyone’s game where it needs to be so that they can help us when they go into the lineup.”
Friedman was scratched from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lineup Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime road win against the rival Hershey Bears. Per a source, Friedman did not join the team in time for Wednesday’s contest.
The right-handed Friedman primarily has been deployed on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top defensive pairing for most of the season. In 19 AHL games, he has five points (one goal, four assists). With Pittsburgh, he has played in three games with no points while averaging 13:08 of ice time.
Rutta has maintenance day
Defenseman Jan Rutta was absent from Thursday’s practice for what was termed as a “maintenance day” by Sullivan.
Rutta has served as the team’s top right-handed defenseman in the past five games because of the absences of Kris Letang (family matters) and Jeff Petry (suspected left arm injury).
During Tuesday’s 5-4 home win against the Vancouver Canucks, Rutta logged a season-high (and team-high) 22 minutes, 26 seconds of ice time on 28 shifts.
In 40 games this season, Rutta has seven points (three goals, four assists) and has averaged 17:47 of ice time.
Injured forwards Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling, goaltender Tristan Jarry and Petry all skated before practice with assistant coach Ty Hennes and goaltending coach Andy Chiodo.
Sullivan labeled all four players as status quo. Previously, Archibald, Poehling and Jarry — all of whom are designated to injured reserve — had been described as “day-to-day” while Petry continues to recover from the injury he suffered Dec. 10. Petry is designated to long-term injured reserve.
Letang remains absent
Letang remains on a leave of absence after the death of his father, Claude Fouquet, on Dec. 31. Sullivan did not provide a time frame for his potential return.
When Letang left the team to join his family in Boston on Jan. 2, he was sidelined by an undisclosed injury. Sullivan indicated Letang is still trying to recover from that ailment while also tending to his personal business.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer on when Kris is going to return to the team,” Sullivan said. “He’s obviously going through a difficult circumstance right now and we’re all trying to offer him the space that’s necessary but also be supportive. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
