OCTOBER 5 • NHL.COM
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 7-12-4 · 8TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
7-12-4 · 8TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
Erik Karlsson Should Be Ready to Go for Season Opener | Pittsburgh Penguins Erik Karlsson said he should be good to go for the Pittsburgh Penguins season opener on Wednesday at home versus the New York Rangers after...
Erik Karlsson, feeling 'pretty good' now, expects to suit up for Penguins season opener Erik Karlsson was upgraded to full participation before the Penguins practiced Saturday morning in Cranberry, and the former All-Star defend...
OCTOBER 5 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Noel Acciari - Scores twice in preseason win Acciari notched two goals (on three shots) in Friday's 7-3 preseason win over the Blue Jackets.
Impact Acciari is expected to compete for a bottom-six role in the final days of training camp, but there's no question this two-goal performance certainly boosts his case to earn a role as a bottom-six forward. Acciari had an underwhelming season in 2023-24, though, racking up just seven points in 55 games, which represents his lowest total since 2016-17.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Jesse Puljujarvi - Three points in preseason win Puljujarvi bagged one goal (on three shots) and added two assists in Friday's 7-3 preseason win over the Blue Jackets.
Impact Puljujarvi had an extremely productive 11-second stint in the second period, bagging Pittsburgh's third goal and setting up Rutger McGroarty's tally. Puljujarvi would finish his day by delivering an assist in Lars Eller's second goal -- and Pittsburgh's seventh of the night. The 26-year-old right winger is expected to hold a middle-six role with the Penguins once Pittsburgh opens the season against the Rangers on Oct. 9.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Lars Eller - Shines in win over Columbus Eller recorded two goals (on three shots) and added two assists in Friday's 7-3 preseason win over the Blue Jackets.
Impact Preseason stats shouldn't count too much toward the regular season, but Eller was a one-man wrecking crew in this one after getting directly involved in four of the team's seven goals. Eller appeared in every regular-season game for the Penguins in 2023-24 as their third-line center and figures to hold that same role this season, meaning these four-point games aren't expected to be a common thing for the 35-year-old veteran.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Joel Blomqvist - Overcomes slow start Friday Blomqvist allowed three goals on 29 shots in Friday's 7-3 preseason win over the Blue Jackets.
Impact Blomqvist endured a rough start Friday and gave up two goals over the opening 5:05 minutes, but he settled down afterward and conceded just one goal the rest of the way. Blomqvist has yet to make his NHL debut after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and he has a shot at opening the regular season against the Rangers on Oct. 9 as Tristan Jarry's backup while Alex Nedeljkovic (lower body) remains on a week-to-week status.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Rutger McGroarty, Jesse Puljujarvi score as Penguins end preseason slate with a bang The preseason is over for the Penguins. The real games begin on Wednesday. The Penguins wrapped up their preseason slate Friday with a 7-3 v...
OCTOBER 5 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
A Pool Party in Pittsburgh 😜🛟🎉
OCTOBER 5 • YOUTUBE
Penguins place Sam Poulin, John Ludvig on waivers; assign Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz to AHL The Penguins made a plethora of roster moves and whittled down their roster Friday, placing seven players on waivers and assigning four more...
OCTOBER 4 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Sam Poulin - Waived Friday Poulin landed on the waiver wire Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Poulin has underwhelmed since being selected 21st overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, managing just six NHL games with the Penguins. He has shown some offensive upside in the minors, garnering 31 points in 41 games last year, so he could be viewed as a reclamation project in some circles. If he clears, he'll head back to the minors, where he figures to play the bulk of his games this year.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
John Ludvig - Lands on waiver wire Ludvig was placed on waivers by the Penguins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Ludvig featured in 33 NHL games for Pittsburgh last year and seemed to have a decent chance of making the Opening Night roster. Instead, the Czech blueliner will be headed for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, assuming he goes unclaimed. Still, even with the demotion, Ludvig should be atop the team's list of potential call-ups should the need arise.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Filip Kral - Placed on waiver wire Kral was designated for waivers by the Penguins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Kral's last NHL appearance came back in 2022-23 when he logged two games for the Maple Leafs. In those outings, the blueliner managed one shot, two hits and two PIM. Given the number of blueliners ahead of him on the depth chart, including John Ludvig who was also waived Friday, Kral faces an uphill battle for minutes this season.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Joona Koppanen - On waiver wire Koppanen was waived by Pittsburgh on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Koppanen was a long shot to make the 23-man roster for Opening Night in the first place, so his waiver designation shouldn't come as a surprise. The 26-year-old Finn has managed just nine NHL games in his career, so fantasy players shouldn't be expecting him to make much of an impact during the 2024-25 campaign.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Gruden - Headed for waivers Gruden was waived by the Penguins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Gruden logged 13 games for Pittsburgh last season, notching one goal, nine shots and 35 hits while averaging a mere 8:40 of ice time. The 2018 fourth-round pick was significantly more productive with the Baby Pens last year, recording 24 points in 47 regular-season outings. Given the forward depth around him, Gruden faces an uphill battle to play significant minutes in the NHL this year.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Nate Clurman - Waived Friday Clurman was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Assuming he clears, Clurman will link up with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign. Given his limited offensive upside, he managed just five points in 37 games with AHL Colorado last year, it's hard to see the 26-year-old defenseman breaking into the Pens' lineup this season.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Emil Bemstrom - Placed on waivers Bemstrom was designated for waivers by the Penguins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Bemstrom played in 24 games for the Penguins last season in which he tallied three goals, two assists and 12 hits while averaging just 8:47 of ice time. Given his 228 games of NHL experience, mostly with the Blue Jackets, the 25-year-old center could be a strong candidate to be snatched off the wire, especially considering his minimal $775,000 cap hit.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Eat, Shop, Tour: Penguins Elevate the Fan Experience | Pittsburgh Penguins Last season, the Penguins made significant capital upgrades to PPG Paints Arena for the first time since the building opened in 2010. They i...
OCTOBER 4 • NHL.COM
Penguins injury updates: Erik Karlsson joins morning skate; Bryan Rust day-to-day with lower-body issue The Penguins revealed a mixed bag of injury news at Friday’s morning skate as defenseman Erik Karlsson joined his teammates in full capacity...
OCTOBER 4 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Tristan Jarry - Busy in Thursday's win Jarry stopped 33 shots in Thursday's 3-1 preseason win over the Blue Jackets.
Impact Cole Sillinger got a puck past him in the first period, but Jarry shut the door the rest of the way while working behind a Pittsburgh lineup missing most of its season-opening roster. The 29-year-old netminder is looking to bounce back from a shaky campaign in which he failed to record at least 20 wins for the first time since he became a regular part of the Penguins' goaltending picture in 2019-20, while posting his worst GAA (2.91) and save percentage (.903) during that stretch.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Joel Blomqvist - Starting Friday Blomqvist will patrol the home crease versus Columbus on Friday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Impact Blomqvist will play the entire game according to coach Mike Sullivan. Blomqvist has yet to make his NHL debut after he was selected in the second round -- 52nd overall -- in 2020. The 22-year-old netminder was 25-12-6 with a 2.16 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 45 regular-season appearances for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2023-24. Look for Blomqvist to be the first goaltender recalled, if either Tristan Jarry or Alex Nedeljkovic suffers an injury.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Bryan Rust - Won't play Friday Rust won't play in Friday's preseason finale against the Blue Jackets due to a lower body injury, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Impact Rust missed a third consecutive day of practice Friday, and coach Mike Sullivan revealed that the winger is dealing with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. While he'll be absent from Friday's exhibition finale, it's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Opening Night against the Rangers on Wednesday. Anthony Beauvillier and Drew O'Connor will likely play alongside Sidney Crosby on the Penguins' top line if Rust is sidelined.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Bryan Rust - Missing again Friday Rust, who was originally absent due to maintenance, was not on the ice for Friday's game-day skate, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact The fact that Rust has now missed three days for maintenance reasons is now becoming a concern for fantasy players. At this point, the winger shouldn't be expected to suit up in the preseason finale against the Jackets on Friday and is probably questionable heading into Opening Night versus the Rangers on Wednesday. If Rust does miss out, Anthony Beauvillier and Drew O'Connor figure to flank Sidney Crosby on the top line.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Erik Karlsson - Joining teammates at practice Karlsson (upper body) took the ice in a regular sweater with the main group Friday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Impact Karlsson is unlikely to jump right back into action against the Jackets on Friday in the Pens' preseason finale, instead, the blueliner looks on track to be ready to suit up for Opening Night versus the Rangers. Still, it's good news for the Swede, who has thus far missed the entirety of training camp due to his upper-body issue. Once given the all-clear, Karlsson figures to eat a ton of minutes on Pittsburgh's blue line and should step into a spot on the No. 1 power-play unit -- though Kris Letang will likely also be in contention for that role.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Game Preview: 10.04.24 vs. Columbus | Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins conclude their 2024 preseason schedule as they return home to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena. Last seaso...
OCTOBER 4 • NHL.COM
Valtteri Puustinen, other Penguins roster hopefuls make final case in preseason win in Columbus COLUMBUS, Ohio — Prior to Thursday’s preseason game at Nationwide Arena, coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged this might be the last audition fo...
OCTOBER 4 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
