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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Penguins' Samuel Poulin: Reassigned to AHL
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Poulin was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Poulin joined Pittsburgh for Thursday's regular-season finale against Washington but will return to the minors a day later. He recorded 19 goals and 24 assists over 56 appearances with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the regular season, and he should have a chance to contribute during the AHL playoffs.
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Penguins' Filip Kral: Back in AHL
Rotowire
Kral was returned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Kral was a healthy scratch in both games this week with the Penguins. The 25-year-old had seven goals and 22 helpers over 59 AHL games before his recall.
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Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Ponomarev spent the last week of the regular season with Pittsburgh, and he was held without a point while generating four hits and a blocked shot over three appearances during his stint with the NHL club. He should have more opportunities to contribute in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
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Penguins' Joona Koppanen: Reassigned to AHL
Rotowire
Koppanen was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Koppanen spent the final few weeks of the regular season with Pittsburgh, and he recorded a goal, 40 hits and three blocked shots while averaging 13:23 of ice time over 11 appearances. Now that the NHL regular season has concluded, Koppanen should have a chance to see some extra work in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
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Penguins' Ville Koivunen: Relegated to minors
Rotowire
Koivunen was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Koivunen was terrific in his eight-game trial with Pittsburgh, picking up seven assists. Koivunen had 21 goals and 34 assists in 62 AHL contests this season and is in line for a top-six role next season with the Penguins.
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Penguins' Blake Lizotte: Will be ready for training camp
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Lizotte said Friday that his lower-body injury won't linger, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Lizotte missed the last four games of the season with the injury. The 27-year-old had a career-tying 11 goals, as well as nine assists in 59 appearances this season, his first in Pittsburgh after spending the first six years of his career with the Kings. Lizotte has one more season remaining at a $1.85 million cap hit and is eligible for free agency following the 2025-26 campaign.
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Penguins' Vladislav Kolyachonok: Plays in finale
Rotowire
Kolyachonok suited up and logged three hits with a shot on goal and a minus-1 rating in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.
Kolyachonok got back in the lineup after a seven-game stint as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old ended the campaign with seven points, 20 shots on net, 27 hits, 31 blocked shots, 10 PIM and a minus-12 rating over 35 appearances between Pittsburgh and Utah. Kolyachonok has had trouble establishing himself in the NHL, but he should get a chance to prove himself in training camp next fall, considering the Penguins' blue line was a weak spot this season.
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Penguins' Connor Dewar: Bags assist in win
Rotowire
Dewar logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.
Dewar had three points over seven outings in April. The 25-year-old forward ended the campaign with four goals, six assists, 55 shots on net, 129 hits and a minus-3 rating over 48 appearances between the Penguins and the Maple Leafs. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer, but he showed enough as a bottom-six forward in his time with Pittsburgh to get a new contract.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Sets career high in points
Rotowire
Rakell logged an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.
The helper got Rakell to the 70-point mark for the first time in his career. He racked up 11 points over the last 12 contests of the season to achieve a career year. Rakell concludes 2024-25 with 35 goals, 35 assists, 203 shots on net, 116 hits, 77 blocked shots and a minus-22 rating over 81 appearances. He's under contract for three more years, and he should be a key part of the Penguins' offense in 2025-26.
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