Nieto underwent reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee surgery May 2, the team announced Wednesday. He's expected to require six-to-seven months to recover.
Nieto last played Nov. 30, 2023 and underwent laparoscopic surgery on his right knee back in January. His new timetable suggests that he won't return until November at the earliest. Nieto should be in the mix for a bottom-six role once he's healthy.
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Penguins' Kris Letang: Undergoes finger surgery
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Letang had surgery to repair a fractured finger and will need eight weeks to recover, the team announced Wednesday.
Letang's recovery timeline shouldn't impact his availability for the start of training camp in the fall. Despite the injury concern, the veteran blueliner played a full 82-game season this past year for the first time since 2010-11. While the Montreal native still managed to rack up 51 points in 2023-24, his productivity with the man advantage dropped significantly, as he managed just five power-play points compared to 21 the campaign before.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Undergoes wrist surgery
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Ludvig underwent wrist surgery April 24, the team announced Wednesday. He's expected to need four-to-six months to recover.
Ludvig had three goals, five points, 47 PIM, 72 hits and 33 blocks in 33 contests with Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 campaign. If he ends up requiring the longer end of that timetable, then Ludvig would miss the start of 2024-25. If healthy, Ludvig might open the season as part of the Penguins' third pairing.
Puustinen inked a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Penguins on Friday.
Puustinen saw action in 52 games for Pittsburgh this year, generating five goals and 15 assists. With a new deal in hand, the 24-year-old winger should be in contention for a bottom-six role heading into the 2024-25 campaign. If he can play regular minutes at the NHL level, Puustinen could be capable of challenging for the 30-point threshold next year.
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Penguins' Filip Lindberg: Inks overseas contract
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Lindberg agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Finnish club SaiPa on Friday.
Lindberg made 31 appearances for TPS last season in which he posted a 2.54 GAA and .883 save percentage. While the Penguins still hold the netminder's NHL rights, this new contract is likely an indication that the 25-year-old backstop won't be making a return to North America any time soon.
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Penguins' Samuel Poulin: Inks two-year extension
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Poulin signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Penguins on Monday.
Poulin racked up 16 goals and 31 points in 41 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. Over the last two years, he's totaled one assist in six NHL appearances. He'll head into next season's training camp looking to win a bottom-six spot in Pittsburgh.
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Penguins' Filip Larsson: Joining Penguins
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Larsson signed a two-year, two-way deal with the Penguins on Monday.
Larsson was a sixth-round pick by Detroit in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and appeared in just seven AHL contests. This season, he logged a strong .920 save percentage and 1.93 GAA in 28 games with Leksands of the SHL. He should fill a depth role in Pittsburgh's organization for the next two years.
Broz inked a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Broz was selected in the second round -- 58th overall -- at the 2021 Draft. He played his final two years of NCAA hockey with the University of Denver and had a big 2023-24 campaign, tallying 16 goals and 24 assists in 43 games. He will report to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for rest of this season on an amateur tryout.
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Penguins' Kris Letang: May need surgery
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Letang will get a second opinion to determine whether he'll need surgery to address his undisclosed injuries, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Although Letang was banged up down the stretch, he appeared in all 82 games for Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 season, racking up 10 goals and 51 points. Another update on the veteran blueliner's status should surface if surgery is required.
Penguins' Emil Bemstrom: Diagnosed with concussion
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Bemstrom suffered a concussion which sidelined him for the season finale against the Islanders on Wednesday, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Bemstrom will be a restricted free agent this offseason, so he'll likely be back with Pittsburgh for the 2024-25 campaign. In his 24 appearances with the Penguins this year, the 24-year-old center notched three goals and two assists while averaging a career-low 8:47 of ice time.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Suffers secondary injury
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Nieto (knee) sustained an undisclosed injury while rehabbing from his knee surgery. The center could find himself heading back under the knife ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Nieto was limited to a mere 22 appearances this season in which he tallied a meager five points. At this point, there seems to be some concern that Nieto won't be fully healthy in time for the start of next season.
St. Ivany was moved to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
St. Ivany recorded an assist, two PIM, 30 hits and 14 blocks in 14 contests with Pittsburgh in 2023-24. He also has four goals, 15 points and 30 PIM in 53 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With Pittsburgh's season over but the minor-league club slated to make the playoffs, this is an opportunity for St. Ivany to get in some extra work.
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Penguins' Radim Zohorna: Returns to AHL
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Zohorna was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Zohorna has concluded the NHL campaign with four goals and seven points in 33 contests. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is set to advance to the postseason, so the 27-year-old will help the club in that quest. Zohorna has nine goals and 25 points in 29 games with the minor-league squad this year.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Heads to minors
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Puustinen was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Pittsburgh's season is over, but Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has secured a playoff berth. Puustinen recorded five goals and 20 points in 52 NHL outings this year. He also has five goals and 11 points in 23 appearances with the minor-league club.
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Penguins' Reilly Smith: Struggling to score
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Smith managed just one goal in his last 15 games of 2023-24 while chipping in six assists.
Brought over from Vegas in the offseason, Smith struggled to reproduce his 2022-23 numbers this year. The lack of productivity, combined with a $5 million cap hit, could lead to Smith being on the trade block during the summer.
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Penguins' Marcus Pettersson: Sets new career highs
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Pettersson recorded new personal bests in goals (four), assists (26) and games played (82) this season.
It was the first time in Pettersson's seven-year NHL career that he played in every game and reached the 30-point threshold. The 27-year-old blueliner doesn't produce much offensively, but he could be a decent depth option in deep formats in 2024-25.
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Penguins' Lars Eller: Features in all 82 games
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Eller was one of six Penguins to play in all 82 games this season, registering 15 goals and 16 helpers.
Eller was a solid addition to the Penguins' roster, slotting into a third-line center role while also seeing time with the No. 2 power-play unit. Looking ahead to next year, the veteran center's ceiling figures to be in the 30-40 point range.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Scores goal Wednesday
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Rakell scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's season-finale loss to the Islanders.
Rakell was much maligned for most of the season due to his lack of offensive production but seems to have benefitted from teaming up with Michael Bunting. In 21 post-deadline outings, the 30-year-old Rakell garnered six goals and four assists. Despite the late surge, Rakell still missed the 40-point threshold for just the second time over his last nine seasons.
