Penguins recall Vasily Ponomarev, place Bryan Rust on injured reserve

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Vasily Ponomarev from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Saturday.

In a corresponding transaction, forward Bryan Rust has been placed on injured reserve. The nature of Rust’s ailment is not publicly known.

Ponomarev, a rookie, appeared in three NHL contests this season, all in November, and did not record a point while averaging 9:12 of ice time per contest.

With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the left-handed Ponomarev has skated in 31 games and is that team’s fourth-leading scorer with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists).

Ponomarev, 22. is in the final year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $795,000.

Rust, 32, has appeared in 48 games this season and is the team’s third-leading scorer with 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) while averaging 19:32 of ice time per contest.

Typically deployed on the right wing of the Penguins’ top line, Rust recorded two assists during a 3-2 road win against the New York Rangers on Friday and completed the contest.

Penguins forward Boko Imama, typically stationed on the fourth line, did not complete the game, departing after the 2:25 mark of the first period. There was no immediate word on his status.

Also uncertain is that wellbeing of Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. Scratched on Friday due a suspected left arm injury, Crosby missed his first regular season game since April of 2022. No substantive word on his status has been offered.

Rust joins forward Evgeni Malkin on injured reserve. An undisclosed ailment has sideliend Malkin for the past five games. He has been labled as “week to week.”