Penguins Recall Young Defenseman After Hot AHL Start

The injury situation for the Pittsburgh Penguins isn't exactly ideal right now. With Elmer Soderblom being downgraded to week-to-week and a couple of players now day-to-day - in addition to already having forward Bryan Rust on injured reserve - there is seemingly no end in sight.

However, one bright spot is that a door of opportunity has been opened for one of the Penguins' young defensive prospects.

Ahead of their home tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday, the Penguins recalled defenseman Jake Livanavage from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). The 22-year-old left blueliner was signed to a two-year entry-level contract late last season out of the University of North Dakota. 

He is off to a hot start to his AHL career this season, registering two goals and eight points in nine games. The 6-foot, 186-pound defenseman from Gilbert, Ariz. has been quarterbacking the WBS power play and making things happen with his speed, mobility, offensive instincts, and booming shot.

Livanavage's services were deemed potentially necessary in the first place because Penguins' defenseman Kaedan Korczak, an ex-Golden Knight, is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, along with forward Evgeni Malkin. After the Penguins' morning skate Tuesday, Korczak - a right-shot blueliner - said he should be good to go for Tuesday's tilt, so it is unclear whether or not Livanavage will make his season debut against Vegas.

Given the team's defensive woes this season, there is still a possibility that Livanavage could sub in for someone on the left side. 

He appeared in one NHL game last season, which was on Apr. 14 against the St. Louis Blues. Livanavage played more than 25 minutes and was a minus-2 in the affair.

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