Penguins’ Filip Hallander out minimum three months with blood clot
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Friday that forward Filip Hallander will miss at least the next three months with a blood clot in his leg.
UPDATE: Forward Filip Hallander has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and will miss a minimum of three months.
Hallander will rehab in Pittsburgh with the @penguins medical team and UPMC staff. pic.twitter.com/3NckIo8tdB
Hallander missed Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals with what was described as a lower-body injury. Now we know the true severity of his condition.
It’s an extremely unfortunate situation for Hallander, who was finally enjoying his first consistent NHL action as a 25-year-old rookie. The Swedish national, who has spent a good portion of the season so far skating on Sidney Crosby’s wing, has a goal and three assists for four points in 13 games, averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per game.
Hallander, who was drafted 58th overall by the Penguins in 2018, initially came to North America just ahead of the 2021-22 season after three years split between Timra IK and Lulea HF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Hallander would then spend two consecutive seasons in Pittsburgh’s organization, only playing three total games in the NHL. He spent the vast majority of his time with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he put up a combined 25 goals and 36 assists for 61 points over 104 games.
Prior to the 2023-24 season, Hallander signed again with Timra IK of the SHL. In his first year back in Sweden, he scored 14 goals and had 22 assists for 36 points in 51 games. Last season, however, was his breakout campaign, when he notched 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points in 51 games.
Hallander’s breakout drew interest again from the Penguins, who signed him to a two-year, $1.55 million deal this past offseason.
Pittsburgh has gotten off to a surprisingly strong start this season, having earned 20 points in 15 games. They’ll visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and then host the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday prior to a four-day break.