Penguins Recalls Excited for New Chance at NHL

Alex Nylander and Dmitri Samorukov are ready for a new shot at the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With the recent pile of injuries that hit the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team has had to scramble to fill the open roster spots.

Rather than make a rash decision like a trade or signing, the Penguins looked in-house and made multiple recalls from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and even signed a defenseman to an NHL contract.

To fill the space opened by Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Chad Ruhwedel, recalls were made for Jansen Harkins and Alex Nylander.

Dmitri Samorukov was signed to an NHL contract and could be next in line for the blue line with P.O. Joseph still out and John Ludvig possibly not ready.

Each of Harkins, Nylander, and Samorukov may have started in the AHL, but all have their own level of NHL experience.

In the case of Nylander, he had a chance to make the NHL roster out of camp, but he just missed and started with the WBS Penguins.

“Just been working on the things they need me to work on,” Nylander said on his time with WBS. “I’m just happy to be up here.”

Nylander played nine games with the Penguins in 2022-23 and a total of 93 in his career, and is eager for a new chance.

“Knowing that if I just keep doing my work,” Nylander said. “Obviously, I’m on the right path and sticking with it, I know I can play here.”

Samorukov has three career NHL games under his belt between the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues.

Joining the WBS Penguins to start the 2023-24 season, Samorukov was working for this exact opportunity.

“It was exciting obviously,” Samorukov said. “That was the goal. Hockey is fun, you just try and be better every day. Sometimes you get rewarded and you just got to use your chances.”

The Penguins might have a far different lineup than what they have been used to this season, with the pile of injuries and recent recalls.

Some injuries should be dealt with in short order like Rust and Ludvig, but losing Rakell and Ruhwedel for the long-term will force certain fresh faces players to step up.

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