Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson rejoined his teammates for a practice session in Cranberry on Sunday.
Currently designated to injured reserve due to an undisclosed malady, he operated in a non-contact fashion and worked on a “fourth” pairing with defenseman Jack St. Ivany.
Karlsson has missed the past three games due to his ailment. On Tuesday, the team announced he would be evaluated.
His presence in Sunday’s practice does not represent any kind of alteration to that schedule, according to coach Dan Muse.
“No change in status,” Muse said. “It was good to have him out there.”
Karlsson will travel with the team for an upcoming four-game road trip through the western reaches of North America.
Typically deployed on the top pairing, the top power-play unit and on the penalty kill, Karlsson is the team’s fourth-leading scorer this season with 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 44 games and has averaged 23:46 of ice time per contest, the Penguins’ top figure among non-goaltenders.
McGroarty sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty was activated from injured reserve and then assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Sunday.
A concussion had sidelined him for the past six games.
Injuries have largely pockmarked his first two professional seasons, at least at the NHL level.
A suspected left foot ailment cost him the final three games of the 2024-25 season. Then, an unspecified ailment he suffered before training camp kept him sidelined for the first five-plus weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.
McGroarty was concussed during a practice session in Cranberry on Jan. 6 when he collided with a teammate.
He was cleared for contact Saturday.
“The best ability is availability,” McGroarty said Sunday. “Obviously, it’s been some bad luck. I feel like from every injury, you can learn and grow from it. I’ve tried to take advantage of the time and work on little things.”
In a corresponding transaction, the Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Graves might rejoin lineup
During Sunday’s practice, left-handed defenseman Ryan Graves worked on a third pairing with right-hander Connor Clifton.
Such a deployment would suggest Graves might be in the lineup for Monday’s road game against the Seattle Kraken. A healthy scratch for the past nine NHL games he has been eligible for, he has not been in the Penguins’ lineup since Dec. 14.
Since then, he cleared waivers Dec. 31 and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before being recalled Jan. 13.
“I’ve been staying ready,” Graves said. “Obviously, I want to play. Just trying to be simple and not trying to do too much. Just trying to get back into it. I’ve played some games (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) recently, so it’s not like I’m rusty or anything. You just want to kind of get back into a groove. If I’m in, just be simple, trying to get your footing again. Things like that. That’s probably my game in a nutshell, anyway. That’s when it’s most effective.”
Graves and Clifton have been paired together fairly extensively this season. In fact, they served as partners for 11 games this season before Graves was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on New Year’s Eve.
“(Graves), before he went down, he was playing pretty well,” Muse said. “We were pretty happy with that pair with him and (Clifton). We wanted to see it today in practice and we’ll make some decisions on what we’re going to do going into the game Monday.”
Kindel looks for goals
During the Penguins’ 4-3 home shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, they nearly won the game in overtime but rookie forward Ben Kindel was robbed on a pair of quality shots by goaltender Elvis Merzlikins during three-on-three play.
Saturday marked the 16th consecutive game Kindel has gone without a goal. Primarily stationed as center of the third line, the 18-year-old has recorded six assists over that stretch.
“It’s a long year,” Kindel said. “There’s going to be ups and downs and there’s going to be times where you’re scoring and you’re not. It’s the stuff in between. Controlling what you can control. Sometimes, the puck is not going to go in so you’ve got to be doing other things to be helping your team. That’s what I really focus on.”
Kindel’s offensive drought isn’t ideal. But it’s not unexpected for a teenager playing in the NHL for the first time.
“You still see him involved in offense, getting chances,” Muse said. “When it’s been a little while, you can’t overthink it. It’s about getting to the (scoring) areas. We all have to remember too, he’s a young player. He’s 18 years old. Within an NHL season, there’s things you’re going to learn — especially your first NHL season — about the game and about adjustments.
“If teams are playing you harder, how do you get a little bit more space, how do you get a little bit more room at the net front? That has been an ongoing process for him this year and it’s going to continue to be an ongoing process as a young player. It’s just continuing to make sure he’s working on those areas and finding ways to get a little bit more space, get pucks off a little bit quicker. But he is getting chances, he’s getting looks, you saw a number of them (in Saturday’s game).
Jones injured again
Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones is back in Western Pennsylvania being evaluated for an undisclosed injury he suffered while on a conditioning assignment with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Sent to the AHL affiliate on Jan. 12, Jones appeared in a 4-1 road win against the Providence Bruins on Wednesday but suffered an injury.
Jones is currently designated to injured reserve as a result of a suspected left foot injury he suffered while skating for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The injury he suffered on Wednesday is a different — but unspecified — malady.
While he is physically in Western Pennsylvania, Jones, procedurally, remains assigned to the AHL club. Conditioning assignments to a minor league affiliate can not last longer than 14 days per NHL rules.
Limited to seven NHL games this season, Jones has one assist while averaging 17:10 of ice time per contest.