Penguins notes: College free agent Corey Andonovski signs, Valtteri Puustinen recalled

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued to add to their system, signing college free agent forward Corey Andonovski on Thursday.

The leading scorer for Princeton this past season, Andonovski agreed to a two-year, entry-level deal that begins next season. Andonovski will, however, report this month to the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to play out its season on an amateur tryout contract.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Andonovski had 10 goals and 12 assists in 31 games during the recently completed season at Princeton. Three years ago, he was named the program’s most outstanding freshmen. The 22-year-old amassed 21 goals and 29 assists in 80 career college games.

A native of Canada, Andonovski is the latest in a string of college free agents the Penguins have signed as the organization deploys creativity to stock a prospect pool that has been depleted by several trades of draft picks.

Puustinen recalled

The Penguins on Thursday recalled forward Valtteri Puustinen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he was leading the team in scoring with 17 goals and 34 points in 53 games.

A seventh-round pick in 2019, Puustinen has yet to make his NHL debut. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound Finn could become the first member of the Penguins’ 2019 draft class and just the fourth player taken after the fourth round that year to make his NHL debut.

Puustinen’s recall was announced several hours after the Penguins’ practice, indicating he likely will not play in Friday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

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