Injured Penguins forward Brandon Tanev not expected to return before playoffs

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brandon Tanev is not expected to return to the team’s lineup before the end of the regular season according to general manager Ron Hextall.

The team placed Tanev on long-term injured reserve Sunday, retroactive to April 3.

He has missed the past four games with an undisclosed injury.

“(Tanev), I don’t believe will be back before the playoffs,” Hextall said Monday via video conference. “That’s a tough injury to judge.”

In 32 games this season, Tanev has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists).

Hextall suggested forward Kasperi Kapanen could return to the lineup within a “10- to 14-day range.” Kapanen has missed the past nine games with an undisclosed injury.

In 30 games this season, he has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists).

Hextall was more ambiguous on the status of forward Evgeni Malkin but suggested he will be able to return before their final regular-season game May 8.

Currently on long-term injured reserve, Malkin has missed the past 13 games because of a suspected right knee injury. In 29 games this season, Malkin has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists).

There was no update on the status of forward Frederick Gaudreau, who was injured during the second period of Sunday’s 5-2 road win against the New Jersey Devils. In 13 games this season, Gaudreau has four points (one goal, three assists).

Defenseman Juuso Riikola, who cleared waivers Sunday, was assigned to the taxi squad. Riikola has been limited to two games and no points this season. While on the taxi squad, only $75,000 of Riikola’s $1.15 million salary will count toward the Penguins’ salary cap figure.

Rookie forward Drew O’Connor was assigned from the taxi squad to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.