Zach Aston-Reese News

Aston-Reese (COVID-19) will not play in the Penguins season opener on Tuesday.

Aston-Reese missed some of the preseason after a positive COVID-19 test in late September and will not be available for the season opener on Tuesday. However, Aston-Reese did travel to Florida and will be re-evaluated ahead of Thursday's game vs. the Panthers.

Zach Aston-Reese
Aston-Reese (shoulder) has been activated from LTIR and is expected to make his season debut on Thursday.

Aston-Reese missed the 11 games of the season while rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery but appears set to join the Penguins' lineup on Thursday. With Jared McCann out week-to-week, Aston-Reese will replace him and skate with familiar linemates in Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev.

Zach Aston-Reese
The Penguins have re-signed Zach Aston-Reese to a two-year contract extension worth $2.0 million ($1.0M AAV).

Aston-Reese spent most of the 2018-19 season with the Penguins, where he had eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 43 games. The 24-year-old posted ridiculous numbers at Northeastern University and solid AHL numbers but will be limited by his bottom-6 role with the Penguins.

Zach Aston-Reese
Aston-Reese was forced to leave Sunday’s game with a hip injury.

Aston-Reese departed Sunday’s game with a hip injury after playing 8:25 TOI but it is believed that the injury “isn’t real serious.” Aston-Reese has been playing well in an elevated role, picking up six points (2G / 4A) while averaging 14:21 TOI/gp in his last 13 games.

Zach Aston-Reese