Penguins' Bokondji Imama: Agrees to one-year contract
Rotowire
Imama (biceps) inked a one-year, $775,000 contract with Pittsburgh on Friday.
Imama had a goal, 30 PIM and 45 hits in 16 appearances with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He also recorded three goals, five points and 47 PIM across 24 regular-season outings with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Imama underwent biceps surgery in late March with an initial recovery timetable of 4-6 months. If everything goes as planned, Imama should be ready for the start of 2025-26, though he might miss some of training camp.
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Penguins' Melvin Fernstrom: Inks entry-level deal
Rotowire
Fernstrom signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Friday.
Fernstrom had eight goals and 17 points across 48 regular-season appearances with Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League in 2024-25. Vancouver selected him with the No. 93 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but his NHL rights were obtained by Pittsburgh on Jan. 31 as part of the trade that sent Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to the Canucks. Fernstrom will likely start his North American tenure in the minors.
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Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Inks three-year deal with KHL club
Rotowire
Ponomarev signed a three-year contract with the KHL's Avangard Omsk on Wednesday, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.
Ponomarev had 15 goals, 41 points and 44 PIM across 55 regular-season appearances with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as well as no points, two PIM and five hits in seven outings with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, so the Penguins can retain the 23-year-old's NHL rights by presenting him with a qualifying offer.
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Penguins' Melvin Fernstrom: Set for showcase participation
Rotowire
Fernstrom will link up with Team Sweden for the World Junior Summer Showcase, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports Wednesday.
Fernstrom spent the 2024-25 campaign primarily with Swedish club Orebro HK, where he scored eight goals and nine assists in 48 regular-season contests. Originally selected by the Canucks in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Penguins acquired the 19-year-old winger in the Marcus Pettersson deal at the trade deadline. He's likely several years from making an impact at the NHL level, so fantasy managers will need to take a wait-and-see approach with Fernstrom's long-term value.
Ilyin signed a three-year, entry-level contact with Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Ilyin generated seven goals and 30 points over 64 KHL regular-season appearances with Severstal Cherepovets in 2024-25. He added one assist in five playoff outings. The Penguins selected the 20-year-old forward in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Ilyin will compete for a spot on Pittsburgh's Opening Night roster during training camp in the fall.
McGroarty (lower body) is skating at the USA Hockey's national goaltender development camp, Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports reports.
McGroarty missed the final three games of the regular season with the injury. The rookie had one goal and two assists in eight regular-season games with the Penguins after racking up 14 goals and 25 assists in 60 AHL appearances. McGroarty is expected to make the Penguins' roster out of training camp in October.
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Penguins' Filip Kral: Returning to Europe
Rotowire
Kral inked a contract with Czech club Kormet Brno on Tuesday.
Kral spent the 2025-26 campaign playing in the minors with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With the Baby Pens, the 25-year-old blueliner notched seven goals and 22 helpers in 61 outings. Despite solid numbers, Kral failed to make an NHL appearance for Pittsburgh. Considering Kral has logged just two NHL games in his career, he could be hard-pressed to work his way back and could finish his career abroad.
Hallander signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Penguins on Monday, per PuckPedia.
Hallander's one-way contract will begin next season. The 2018 second-round selection accumulated 26 goals and 53 points over 51 regular-season games with Timra of the Swedish Hockey League in 2024-25. Hallander has only three games of NHL experience, but he has a good chance at earning a spot on the Penguins' Opening Night roster in 2025-26.
Howe had surgery to reconstruct a torn ACL on Wednesday and will be sidelined for nine months.
Howe split the 2024-25 campaign between WHL Regina and Calgary, logging a combined 18 goals and 28 assists in 47 contests before adding another nine points in six playoff games with the Hitmen. Selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old winger is likely going to make the jump to the AHL next season, but he could have been a long-shot option to make the Opening Night roster. Instead, Howe likely won't be ready to play until January and figures to play primarily in the minors for the rest of 2025-26.
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Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen: Optioned to AHL
Rotowire
Puustinen was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Puustinen managed a pair of goals and an assist in 13 NHL games this season. The 25-year-old Finn had 16 goals and 19 assists over 47 AHL games this season, before his recall.
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