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Penguins

Pens go international on day two

From Mirror,wire reports The 2023 NHL Draft is in the books, with the Penguins welcoming six new prospects to the organization on Wednesday and Thursday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. In the first round, Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas announced Pittsburgh’s selection of forward Brayden Yager, who spent last season with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. “He was in a mix of players that we were really hoping would drop down to 14,” Dubas said. “The scouting staff was very excited about him, and we were thrilled to be able ...

Pens pick up Smith from Vegas

Pittsburgh uses first selection on forward The Associated Press The Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights are already preparing to try to repeat, trading a longtime franchise cornerstone and keeping their best trade deadline pickup. Vegas on Wednesday traded Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins and re-signed fellow forward Ivan Barbashev to a five-year contract worth $25 million. The moves came hours before the start of NHL draft. Barbashev, a key contributor on the Golden Knights’ title run with 18 points in 22 games, was expected to be one of the top players available ...

Pens release schedule

The Pittsburgh Penguins released their 2023-24 schedule Tuesday and it includes the season opener on Oct. 10 at PPG Paints Arena against the Chicago Blackhawks. After the Penguins home opener, they will host the Washington Capitals on Oct. 13. Some of the other highlights include: n Nov. 22 — The annual Thanksgiving Eve game lives on in Pittsburgh with the New York Rangers in town. n Dec. 24-26 — Mandated Christmas break. Games resume on Dec. 27 with the Penguins on Long Island to take on the New York Islanders. n Dec. 31 Celebrate New Year’s Eve at PPG Paints Arena to ...

Teams keep eye on defenders at NHL Draft

The Associated Press David Reinbacher was quick to rally to the defense of his fellow defensemen, and whether this year’s NHL draft class of blue liners lacks depth and is getting overshadowed by the hype regarding a Connor Bedard-led group of high-skilled forwards. “I would say it’s not a lack,” the 18-year-old Austrian said at the recent draft combine in Buffalo, New York. “There are so many good defense also here, like Pellikka and the Russian guy,” he added referring to Sweden’s Axel Sandin Pellikka and Mikhail Gulyayev. “So I would say, we’re a good group of ...

Barrasso among Hall 2023 class

Henrik Lundqvist had posters of Mike Vernon and Tom Barrasso on a wall in his bedroom when he was growing up in Sweden hoping to play in the NHL. Decades later, they are going into the Hockey Hall of Fame together this November as part of a goaltender-heavy class of 2023. Lundqvist was elected Wednesday in his first year of eligibility and Vernon and Barrasso after lengthy waits to get the call, making nearly half the inductees guys who keep the puck out of the net for a living. “Of course as a kid when you grow up, you look at the goalies that are playing well and how they play ...

Pens hire Spezza as assistant GM

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins hired two-time NHL All-Star Jason Spezza as assistant general manager. President of hockey operations Kyle Dubas announced the move on Wednesday. Spezza spent the 2022-23 season working as a special assistant to Dubas when Dubas served as the general manager in Toronto. The 40-year-old Spezza scored 363 goals during a 19-year NHL career with Ottawa, Dallas and Toronto. He retired in May 2022 and immediately went to work for Dubas. Spezza’s role in Toronto included working inside several departments with the Maples Leafs, including player ...