Sebastian Aho probably would admit this season has taken a different turn from what he had in mind last summer when inking a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth $775,000 annually.
At the time, the Penguins bringing Aho — a veteran of 190 NHL games — aboard with modest term suggested he’d enter training camp with a good shot to make the team as a sixth or reserve seventh defensemen.
Ultimately, things played out differently, with Jack St. Ivany and Ryan Shea earning those spots, but upon accepting assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, Aho took it in stride.
“There’s not enough good things I could say about him,” first-year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach Kirk MacDonald said in October. “It’s easy for guys like that who have been in the NHL for awhile on a one-way contract, signed as free agent, to come down and be bitter, be in a bad mood and let it bleed into their game and the locker room. Complete opposite. He’s been a leader. The way he practices, his attitude, his work ethic — everything he does — he’s a pro.
“He’s an outstanding defenseman, but the way he’s conducted himself as a person, to me, is what is impressive. He’s had a big, big impact around our locker room. The way he approaches every day should be a blueprint for how guys need to have to be as a professional hockey player. He’s a joy to coach and have around.”
Aho, 28, joined the Penguins after spending parts of seven season with the New York Islanders, who drafted him 139th overall in 2017.
The Umea, Sweden, native played a career-high 71 games with the Islanders in 2022-23, posting five goals and 18 assists. Last year, he skated in 58 games with New York.
While in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Aho has aimed to share what he’s learned about being a professional with the younger players.
“There’s a lot of young guys, and I’m one of the older ones for the first time,” Aho said. “It’s a different approach you’ve kind of got to take to it, being more involved, talking to guys on the ice if you see something you think they could benefit from. I’m trying to do it as much as I can and be someone they can talk to and ask questions and try to spread what I’ve been through and learned over the years. It’s a fun, new challenge.”
While embracing a leadership role in the locker room, Aho’s season has been hampered by injury, limiting him to 10 of Wilkes-Barre’s 25 games. He has three assists on the season.
Aho appeared in six games as the regular season got underway but was sidelined at the end of October with an undisclosed injury.
Then, after suiting up for two games in late November, he went down again and remained unavailable until Dec. 21.
Whereas Aho could have been the next defenseman in line for a recall to Pittsburgh, instead, the timing of his injuries contributed to others getting those opportunities, such as Owen Pickering and Nate Clurman.
The AHL is not the desired ultimate destination, but in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Aho regularly deploys on the top defensive pairing and sees heavy minutes.
As he’s done so far this year, Aho will remain focused on being a mentor, improving his own game and helping Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stay in the win column.
“There’s nothing you can do to control it except just come into work every day and do what you do,” Aho said. “Everybody knows why they’re here. Everybody’s got something in their game that the Penguins obviously like. Otherwise none of us would be here. I think you’ve just got to come ready to work and help the team win down here. It’s always better if the team’s winning. It’s better for everyone.”
