Kral spent 2023-24 with the Pelicans of Liiga after leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022-23 but has signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 AAV and will be returning to Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old defenseman had five goals and 37 points in 46 games with the Pelicans and brings two games of NHL experience to Pittsburgh.
Gruden appeared in a career-high 13 games played in 2023-24 and has signed a two-year, $1.550 Million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 24-year-old centre was drafted by Ottawa in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (95th overall) and has appeared in a total of 16 career NHL games played and has one goal, five PIMs and nine SOG.
Pittsburgh completed its third signing of the day on Tuesday by announcing that they have extended defensemen Jack St. Ivany to a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV). The 2018 fourth-round pick (112th overall) made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and had one assist, 11 SOG and two PIMs in 14 games played.
Pittsburgh announced Wednesday that Matt Nieto is expected to miss the next six to seven months after successfully undergoing knee surgery this week and is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season. The 31-year-old left winger appeared in 22 games with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and had a goal, four points, 13 SOG and a +5 plus/minus in his first season with the Penguins.
Pittsburgh announced Wednesday that John Ludvig had successfully had finger surgery and is expected to be out for at least four to six months. The 23-year-old has the potential to be ready for training camp but will decide as he assesses his progress closer to next season. The 23-year-old rookie made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and had three goals, two assists, 24 SOG, 47 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 33 games played.
Grzelyck will head to the press box for Game 6 as he is replaced by Kevin Shattenkirk in Boston's lineup on Thursday. The 30-year-old has only appeared in three games in the playoffs thus far, and is without a point, has three SOG and two PIMs while averaging 18:10 TOI/GP.
Kevin Shattenkirk will be a healthy scratch in game five on Tuesday, allowing Grzelcyk to re-enter the lineup. Grzelcyk has not played the last two games and averaged 17:47 time-on-ice through the first two games of the series, recording two shots and five hits.
Parker Wotherspoon will make his series debut in game three, making Grzelcyk the odd man out of the lineup. Grzelcyk averaged 17:47 time-on-ice through the first two games of the series, recording two shots and five hits.
With Pittsburgh's 2023-24 season officially in the books, St. Ivany has been reassigned to the AHL. The 24-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in 14 games with Pittsburgh.
With Pittsburgh's 2023-24 season officially in the books, Puustinen has been reassigned to the AHL. The 24-year-old played 52 games with Pittsburgh this season, scoring 20 points (5G / 15A).
With Ottawa's season wrapped up, Imama has been reassigned to the AHL. Imama played six games with Ottawa this season but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Belleville Senators (AHL), scoring 10 points (3G / 7A) in 53 games.
Carter played the final game of his career in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders, scoring one goal in 14:50 time-on-ice. The 39-year-old Carter was the 11th overall pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He hangs up his skates with 851 career points (442G / 409A) in 1321 games split between the Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bemstrom scored a goal in Monday's 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators, snapping a six-game pointless skid, but will draw out of the lineup for the Penguins' final game of the season. Bemstrom ends the 2023-24 campaign with 16 points (8G / 8A) in 56 games split between the Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday but will continue to roll with Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Wednesday against the New York Islanders. Nedeljkovic has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five (3-1-1) but saved 28 of 30 (.933 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Penguins enter action as -130 road favourites.
The Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday but will continue to roll with Nedeljkovic between the pipes on Wednesday against the New York Islanders. Nedeljkovic has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five (3-1-1) but saved 28 of 30 (.933 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Penguins enter action as -130 road favourites.
Imama will be the odd-man out on Tuesday when the Senators travel to Boston for their regular season finale. Zack Ostapchuk will draw into the lineup in his place.
Grzelcyk was a healthy scratch for Boston's game on Monday but will replace Brandon Carlo (maintenance) in the lineup Tuesday vs. Montreal. The 30-year-old shutdown defenseman is on pace to have the lowest point output of his seven-year career, with his two goals, 11 points, 57 SOG, 37 PIMs and +14 plus/minus through 62 games played.
Parker Wotherspoon will draw back into the Bruins lineup on Monday, making Grzelcyk a healthy scratch. Grzelcyk recorded an assist in his last contest, snapping a five-game pointless skid.
Nedeljkovic will continue his reign over the Penguins crease as they continue their efforts towards making the final Wild-Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Nedeljkovic has allowed three or more goals in three straight (1-1-1), a skid that has potentially sealed the fate of the Penguins, highlighted by allowing three goals on 16 shots (.813 SV%) in an eventual 6-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. The Penguins enter action as -125 home favourites.
