Puustinen scored a goal on three shots in a 5-4 loss to the Islanders on Wednesday.
Puustinen was able to bring a 14-game goal drought to a close in the season finale. The 24-year-old winger played in 52 NHL games this year, picking up five goals, 15 assists and 40 hits while averaging 11:45 of ice time. Puustinen will need a new contract before the 2024-25 campaign, but he'll likely be back with the Pens considering he is a restricted free agent.
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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.
Puustinen picked up an assist in Thursday's 4-1 victory over Washington.
Pusstinen was able to end a four-game pointless steak, though he remains mired in a nine-game goal drought dating back to March 17 versus Detroit. During his goalless streak, the 24-year-old winger has been averaging just 11:37 of ice time.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Back in NHL
Rotowire
Puustinen was summoned from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, per the AHL's transaction list.
Puustinen was briefly sent to the minors Friday so that he could become eligible for the AHL playoffs. He has two goals and 13 points in 31 games with Pittsburgh this season.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Sent to AHL
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Puustinen was loaned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.
This is likely a paper move to keep Puustinen eligible for the AHL playoffs and he should be recalled ahead of Saturday's game in Boston. Puustinen has two goals and 11 assists in 31 NHL games this season. He also has five goals and 11 points in 23 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year.
Puustinen notched a power-play assist and blocked two shots in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Flames.
Puustinen set up Lars Eller on the Penguins' second goal. The 24-year-old Puustinen has a point in five of his last six games, earning a goal and four assists in that span. He's up to 13 points (two on the power play), 49 shots on net, 17 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 28 outings overall. The Finn appears set to stick in a top-six role until one of Jake Guentzel (upper body) or Bryan Rust (upper body) returns, assuming Guentzel isn't traded before the deadline.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Generates helper
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Puustinen provided an assist and fired four shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks.
Puustinen has quietly put together a four-game point streak (one goal, three assists). The winger has moved up to the second line with the Penguins thinned out by injuries to Jake Guentzel (upper body) and Bryan Rust (upper body). Puustinen has 12 points, 46 shots on net and a plus-8 rating over 26 NHL appearances this season. He is mostly a scoring-only option in deeper fantasy formats, but he may be worth a look while filling a larger role.
Puustinen was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Puustinen was brought up as extra forward depth with Jake Guentzel (upper body) going on long-term injured reserve Thursday. In 21 NHL outings this season, Puustinen has eight points and 33 shots on goal, mainly in a bottom-six role.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Dropped to AHL
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Puustinen was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday
Puustinen has picked up one goal, seven assists and 33 shots on net in 21 NHL appearances this campaign. He also has five goals and 10 points in 18 AHL outings this season. The 24-year-old forward might be brought back up by the big club after the All-Star break.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Scores first goal in win
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Puustinen scored his first career NHL goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 7-0 rout of the Islanders.
He also chipped in three shots on net, a blocked shot and a plus-2 rating. Puustinen has been productive since joining the NHL roster Dec. 8, collecting six points in eight games while seeing some power-play time, but his ceiling his limited by his bottom-six role -- the 24-year-old saw less ice time at even strength Wednesday (8:13) than any other Pittsburgh player.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Brought up from minors
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Puustinen was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Puustinen has played in just one NHL game in his career but could be in the mix to face the Panthers on Friday. There are likely two spots available in the lineup for Puustinen, Johnny Gruden and Marc Johnstone as the Penguins try to shake up their bottom six. Even if Puustinen does play Friday, he is unlikely to stick with the Penguins long term and figures to play most of his games in the minors this year.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Back in action
Rotowire
Puustinen (upper body) has two points over three games since returning for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Puustinen will likely continue to see a significant role for the Baby Pens, which could lead to the 24-year-old eventually rising to the NHL roster.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Out week-to-week
Rotowire
Puustinen (upper body) is considered week-to-week for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Taylor Haase of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Puustinen was hurt Sunday and will be out for a while. The forward was possibly in contention for a call-up with the Penguins needing better fourth-line options, but this injury likely changes that.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Signs one-year pact
Rotowire
Puustinen signed a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Puustinen notched 24 goals and 59 points in 72 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old forward picked up an assist in his NHL debut with Pittsburgh on March 11, 2022 versus Vegas. Puustinen is likely to spend most, if not all, of the 2023-24 campaign in the minors.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Returned to minor-league affiliate
Rotowire
Puustinen was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
Radim Zohorna was recalled by the Penguins in a corresponding move, so Puustinen may be in for an extended stay in the minors. Puustinen's racked up 17 goals and 34 points through 53 AHL appearances this season.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Elevated from AHL
Rotowire
Puustinen was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Puustinen has tallied 34 points over 53 AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton contests in 2021-22. The 22-year-old could make his NHL debut as soon as Friday's game against Las Vegas.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Back to minors
Rotowire
Puustinen was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Despite multiple stints with the big club and a decent 27 points in 40 AHL contests, Puustinen -- a 22-year-old rookie -- has yet to make his NHL debut.
