Jesse Puljujarvi Rejoins Wilkes-Barre & Sid the Kid Is Not Slowing Down
Plus a look back at Ron Hextall's time as GM
Welcome to the THW Pittsburgh Penguins Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Penguins writers.
Today we are going to examine Jesse Puljujarvi’s chances at making it to the NHL, Sidney Crosby’s amazing season so far and more.
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Jesse Puljujarvi Starts Path Back to NHL with WBS Penguins
January 8, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
After fighting his way back to professional hockey following surgery that kept him out to start the 2023-24 season, Jesse Puljujarvi has found his way back and has signed an American Hockey League (AHL) professional tryout (PTO) with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are the Pittsburgh Penguins’ minor-league affiliate. The team has played two games since he joined the team, but he was given a rest in the second game. With the Penguins trading Rem Pitlick to the Chicago Blackhawks, it sounds like they are trying to make room to sign Puljujarvi to a full-time deal.
In his first game in the AHL this season, Puljujarvi was held pointless but put up three shots in a 2-1 win while playing on the first line. It seems as though the Penguins are giving him every chance to succeed with their team and with the speed he had in his first game of the new season, he has proven he can still compete at the highest level. With his current level of play, it seems like the Penguins will be the first step back to the NHL level.
Sidney Crosby Having Most Impressive Season Yet
January 10, 2024 by Jordan Orth
Since getting drafted first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby has had sky-high expectations placed upon him. Throughout his 19 seasons in the NHL, he has been able to live up to and exceed those expectations while becoming one of the Penguins’ best players of all time and one of the league’s best players of all time.
After a career that has seen several injuries and ups and downs, Crosby could very easily be in the middle of the most impressive season of his career this season.
Penguins’ Best & Worst Moves Under GM Ron Hextall
January 5, 2024 by Jake Decker
On Feb. 9, 2021, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Ron Hextall as their new general manager (GM), along with Brian Burke as their president of hockey operations. As the former GM for the Philadelphia Flyers, Hextall was often criticized for a number of reasons by the Flyers fanbase, which was an immediate cause for concern for the Penguins.
Hextall was known to be too patient with his team and unwilling to make changes when they were needed. In addition, he wasn’t the best at drafting as he failed to land various all-star caliber players when he had the chance. Once hired in 2021, his time in Pittsburgh was nothing short of interesting. His transactions have ranged from amazing to terrible and everywhere in between. Here are Hextall’s best moves and worst moves as the Penguins’ GM in his two-year stint.