The Pittsburgh Penguins made a series of transactions Friday morning in advance of their road game against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.
Most notably, forward Noel Acciari, who has been sidelined for the past three games due to an undisclosed ailment, was placed on injured reserve.
Typically deployed on the fourth line, the right-handed Acciari has appeared in 22 games this season and has three points (two goals, one assist) while averaging 12:18 of ice time per contest.
Additionally, forwards Jonathan Gruden, Marc Johnstone and Valtteri Puustinen were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) while forwards Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander were assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
• This marks Gruden’s second recall to the NHL roster this season though he has yet to appear in any NHL games in 2023-24. During the NHL preseason, Gruden played in two games and recorded one assist.
In 21 AHL games, Gruden, a left-handed shot, has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists).
Gruden made his NHL debut last season, appearing in three games with no points while clocking an average of 5:20 of ice time per contest.
Acquired in a 2020 trade that sent goaltender Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators, Gruden is signed to a one-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.
• Johnstone is in his first campaign with the Penguins having signed a two-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000 in July.
A right-handed shot, the 27-year-old Johnstone has never played in the NHL. In 21 AHL games this season, he has five points (two goals, three assists).
This past NHL preseason, Johnstone played in one contest and did not record a point.
• Puustinen has been Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s leading scorer in each of the past two seasons. This season, he has produced 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 18 games.
This past preseason, Puustinen was one of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ leading scorers, posting three points (one goal, two assists) in three games.
A seventh-round draft pick (N0. 203 overall) in 2019, Puustinen has been recalled to the NHL roster three times previously in his career, the most recent coming in March of 2022. In his only career NHL game, a 5-2 home win against the Vegas Golden Knights, Puustinen recorded an assist while logging 10:14 of ice time on 14 shifts.
The right-handed Puustinen is signed to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
• Koppanen was recalled to the NHL roster on Saturday and appeared in three NHL games with no points while averaging 7:25 of ice time per contest.
With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, the left-handed Koppanen has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in 18 games.
The Penguins signed Koppanen to a two-year contract that is two-way in the first year and one-way in the second. He carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
• Nylander has been recalled to the NHL roster twice this season, most recently on Monday. In five NHL games during the 2023-24 campaign, Nylander has no points while averaging 13:52 of ice time per contest.
With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Nylander has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 14 games.
The right-hander is signed to a one-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
Notes: Per the Penguins’ X account, coach Mike Sullivan told media in Sunrise on Thursday that top-six forward Bryan Rust would not be available for Friday’s game due to an undisclosed injury. … The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed Wheeling Nailers forward Tanner Laderoute to a professional tryout contract (PTO).
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