In addressing what Pittsburgh Penguins winger Valtteri Puustinen could do to better distinguish himself, coach Mike Sullivan recently offered a lengthy answer.
“I think he needs to make an impact and not just blend in to the hockey game,” Sullivan said Monday. “When (Puustinen) is at his best, he’s conscientious defensively but he makes an impact on the offensive side. He makes plays when they’re there. He uses his speed, his quickness, his anticipation skills to force turnovers. He has the ability to distribute the puck and he can shoot.
“I think what he needs to do, just like every other player that’s going in the lineup, is they’ve got to make an impact. Then he’s got to use his strengths and his skill sets in the role that we cast him in order to do so. He’s a guy that has the ability to make an impact.”
At least for now, Puustinen won’t get a chance to take on Sullivan’s challenge, as the Penguins placed him on waivers Tuesday afternoon following their team practice in Cranberry.
He can be claimed by any NHL club before the league’s 2 p.m. deadline Wednesday.
Puustinen, 25, was a healthy scratch for 13 of the Penguins’ 23 games this year.
In the 10 games he did play, Puustinen managed a goal and an assist in 9 minutes, 53 seconds of nightly ice time.
Heading into this season, Puustinen looked to be on solid ground to earn an expanded role with the club.
Puustinen showed flashes in 2023-24, scoring five goals with 15 assists in 52 games.
Those represented career highs for the Kuopio, Finland, native.
However, his success did not translate to this season, as his minutes dropped by roughly two per night as compared to last year.
If Puustinen is not claimed, he can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey league, where he has scored 49 goals with 65 assists in 169 career contests.
He is signed through 2025-26 at a $775,000 annual salary cap hit.
