The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled goaltender Magnus Hellberg from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Wednesday after placing incumbent backup goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on injured reserve.
Nedeljkovic suffered an undisclosed injury during a 4-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Hellberg, 32, was signed as an unrestricted free agents in July, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $785,000. In two AHL games this season, he has a 1-1-0 record, a 2.55 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
One of the biggest goaltenders in professional hockey at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Hellberg has led a nomadic existence in the sport having played for 19 teams since first turning professional during the 2008-09 season.
Nedeljkovic was injured in only his second game this season. So far in 2023-24, Nedeljkovic has a 1-1-0 record, a 3.01 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
In two corresponding paper transactions for the benefit of the salary cap, the team recalled forward Corey Andonovski from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and assigned forward Radim Zohorna to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It is believed those two players will be exchanged once again by Thursday morning.
Andonovski, 24, was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sept. 25 and in three AHL games this season, he has one assist.
A right-handed shot, Andonovski is in the second year of a two-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $925,000. He does not require waivers to be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Zohorna, 27, has appeared in two NHL games this season — primarily skating on the third line — and has one goal while averaging 11:10 of ice time per contest.
After clearing waivers on Oct. 9 and being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on that same day, Zohorna was recalled to the NHL roster on Oct. 20. He is signed to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
