Connor Dewar will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Hallander to make his season debut against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Hallander spent the previous two seasons playing hockey in Sweden, including an impressive 2024-25 season where he scored 53 points (26G / 27A) in 51 games with Timra IK (SweHL).
Hallander was a second-round pick, 54th overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old spent the previous two seasons playing for Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring a combined 89 points (40G / 49A) in 102 games.
Hallander has 11 goals, 22 assists, 18 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 40 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and has been recalled on an Emergency Basis to Pittsburgh Thursday. The 22-year-old has yet to pick up his first career NHL point across three games played.
Hallander missed the Penguins' previous game due to an illness but is a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup vs. Toronto. In two games with Pittsburgh, he has no points while averaging 9:58 TOI. Prior to his promotion last week, the young centre in Wilkes-Barre (AHL) had four goals and nine points in 10 games while playing strong defensively with a +7 plus/minus.
Hallander will make his season debut Wednesday after having a strong showing in Wilkes-Barre (AHL) where he had four goals and nine points in 10 games while playing strong defensively with a +7 plus/minus. He has one career NHL game prior to the promotion.
Hallander has been recalled by Pittsburgh after a strong showing in Wilkes-Barre (AHL) where he had four goals and nine points in 10 games while playing strong defensively with a +7 plus/minus. He has one career NHL game prior to the promotion.
Hallander has 10 goals with 13 assists (23 points) in 52 AHL games this season. This is Hallander's first season in North America after spending the last three in the SHL.
Hallander was originally a second-round pick of the Penguins but was traded to the Maple Leafs as a part of the Kasperi Kapanen trade last summer. With the Expansion Draft looming, the Penguins were likely to lose Jared McCann for nothing, so this trade at least brings Hallander back to the organization. The 21-year-old had 13 goals and 11 assists (24 points) in 51 game with Lulea HF (SHL) in 2021.
