The Pittsburgh Penguins took to the ice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. on Wednesday with yet another face from WBS.
Forward Joona Koppanen - recalled on an emergency basis Wednesday morning from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - joined practice rotating in on the fourth line.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward had a recent five-game stint with the NHL club - potting his first NHL goal in that span - but he was optioned back to WBS when Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen were recalled Friday. The 27-year-old forward has registered seven goals and 22 points in 55 AHL games this season to go along with a strong defensive conscience.
He's glad to be back, and he wants to make the most of any opportunity he's given.
"It's awesome," Koppanen said. "It's always nice to be here and get the chance to show my game here and try to be here as long as possible."
Koppanen also mentioned that it's nice to be sharing the opportunity with McGroarty and Koivunen - a fellow Finnish player - especially since they've worked to build a winning culture in WBS, where the team is vying for its first-ever Calder Cup.
And he is appreciative of the organization rewarding both players for the work they've put in all season long.
"To see what work they put in there and see that they get rewarded for their work... it's awesome to see," Koppanen said. "It's fun to have a couple of guys - I know a few people - but, of course, I know them better because we've been playing [in WBS] almost a whole year together. So, it's nice to have them here."
- Speaking of which, McGroarty and Koivunen were kept in their top-six roles at Wednesday's practice. McGroarty remained on the left side of the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, while Koivunen shifted to Rickard Rakell's right with Connor Dewar on the left. Emil Bemstrom also remains with the NHL team after clearing waivers:
McGroarty - Crosby - Rust
Dewar - Rakell - Koivunen
Kevin Hayes - Noel Acciari - Philip Tomasino
Danton Heinen - Blake Lizotte/Koppanen - Emil Bemstrom
Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Conor Timmins - Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves/Vladislav Kolyachonok - Ryan Shea
- Head coach Mike Sullivan reiterated the coaching staff's approach with the young guys in the top-six after practice: "We're trying to put players in positions where they can play to their strengths and they can succeed. First and foremost, we have to believe they're capable of playing the role that we're trying to put them in. The progress that those two guys have made throughout the course of the year in Wilkes-Barre makes us believe that they're capable of playing in those roles. Otherwise, we wouldn't have put them there."
- Sullivan also mentioned that one injured player will travel with the team on their three-game road trip starting Thursday against the St. Louis Blues - and that is forward Evgeni Malkin, who is still day-to-day. Malkin and defenseman P.O Joseph skated on the injured ice before practice, while forward Tommy Novak continues his off-ice program.
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