The Penguins have acquired Dominik Kahun and a 2019 fifth-round pick (No.151 overall) from the Blackhawks for Olli Maatta.
Kahun was an undrafted free-agent who came to North America this year after spending four years in Germany. The 23-year-old winger had 13 goals and 24 assists (37 points) in 82 games with the Blackhawks and will likely be a replacement for Matt Cullen and Garrett Wilson as a bottom-6 forward for the Penguins.
The Penguins have signed Emil Larmi to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Larmi, 22, is an undrafted free-agent netminder, who was 12-6-0 with a 1.72 GAA and .930 SV% in 18 games with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish Elite League this season. Larmi also went 12-6 with a 1.72 GAA, .932 SV% and two shutouts in the playoffs to lead HPK to the championship.
Source: Penguins 06/3/19, 5:50 pm EST
The Penguins have signed Jusso Riikola to a one-year contract worth $850K.
Riikola, 25, came over the North America this season and served primarily as an extra defenseman for the Penguins. Riikola registered five points (2G / 3A) in 37 NHL games and added two assists in five games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
The Penguins signed Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year, $1.4 million extension ($700K AAV).
Ruhwedel split his 2019 campaign between the NHL and AHL. Ruhwedel had one goal and one assist in 18 games with the Penguins and five points (1G / 4A) in five AHL games. Ruhwedel figures to serve as the Penguins No.7 defenseman in 2019-20.
The Penguins signed Kasper Bjorkqvist to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Bjorkqvist, 21, was a second-round pick (No.61 overall) in the 2016 draft and just finished his third season at Providence College with 17 goals and 13 assists (30 points) in 42 games. The Finnish winger represented Finland at the World Juniors in 2016 and 2017, scoring two goals with two assists (four points) in 13 games.
The Penguins signed Niclas Almari to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Almari, 21, was a fifth-round pick (No.151 overall) in 2016, and registered one goal and four assists (five points) in 42 games with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish Ligga. Almari is expected to begin his first full season in North America with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Source: Penguins 04/30/19, 11:00 am EST
Source: Penguins 04/27/19, 3:36 pm EST
Source: Penguins 04/22/19, 5:42 pm EST
Goalie Start
Murray will start Game 4 vs. the Islanders.
Murray allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Penguins 4-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 3. The Penguins have fallen behind 3-0 with Murray allowing a combined 10 goals on 102 shots (.902 SV%). Murray has been drastically outplayed by Robin Lehner through three games and will need to be great in Game 4 if the Penguins are going to keep their season alive.
McCann (upper-body) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play in Game 3.
McCann missed Game 2 due to an upper-body injury but is expected to replace Teddy Blueger in the lineup in Game 2.
Goalie Start
Murray led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups.
Murray surrendered three goals on 34 shots in the Penguins 3-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 2. The Penguins have fallen behind 2-0 in the series, with Murray allowing seven goals on the first 67 shots (.896 SV%) that he has faced. Now they return to Pittsburgh, where Murray was 13-10-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .906 SV% in the regular season.
Goalie Start
Murray will likely start Game 3 vs. the Islanders.
Murray surrendered three goals on 34 shots in the Penguins 3-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 2. The Penguins have fallen behind 2-0 in the series, with Murray allowing seven goals on the first 67 shots (.896 SV%) that he has faced. Now they return to Pittsburgh, where Murray was 13-10-2 with a 3.13 GAA and .906 SV% in the regular season.
McCann is "optimistic" he will play in Game 3.
McCann was forced to miss Game 2 with an upper-body injury but is expected to be back on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel in Game 3.
Source: Joe Rutter 04/14/19, 9:49 am EST
Line Change
Johnson is expected to be back in the Penguins lineup for Game 2.
Johnson was a healthy scratch in Game 1 with Brian Dumoulin returning from injury but Johnson will likely replace Olli Maatta, who struggled in the overtime loss, on the blueline in Game 2. Johnson appeared in all 82 regular season games this season, picking up one goal and 12 assists (13 points).
Source: Josh Yohe 04/12/19, 3:42 pm EST
Goalie Start
Murray will start Game 2 against the Islanders.
Line Change
Johnson will be a healthy scratch for Game 1 against the Islanders.
Dumoulin (lower-body) will play in Game 1 against the Islanders on Wednesday.
Goalie Start
Murray will start Game 1 against the Islanders.
Murray had some ups and downs this season but finished the season on a high-note, going 5-2-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .931 SV% in his final eight starts. The Islanders are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL, which is good news for Murray, but he was 0-1-1 with a 3.72 GAA and .829 SV% against them this season.
Aston-Reese (upper-body) will be a game-time decision for Game 1.
Aston-Reese missed the last 12 games of the regular seasons but skated as an extra in Tuesday’s practice but remains a game-time decision for Game 1. Aston-Reese had eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 43 games this season.
