Penguins assign goaltender Joel Blomqvist, others to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned nine players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) Thursday.

Goaltender Joel Blomqvist was the most notable name among that nonet. One of the organization’s top prospects, the Finnish-born Blomqvist is entering his first full season in North America. A second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in 2020, Blomqvist, 21, appeared in 21 games last season with Karpat of the top league in Finland, the Liiga, and posted a 6-5-8 record, along with a 2.29 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and one shutout.

A left-catching goaltender, Blomqvist appeared in one game for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton late last season, making 23 saves on 27 shots in a 4-0 road loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on April 14. He is entering the first year of a three-year entry-level contract carrying a salary cap hit of $886,667.

Others heading to Northeast Pennsylvania include:

Forward Corey Andonovski – In his first full professional season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2022-23, the right-handed Andonovski appeared in 62 games and scored 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists). Andonovski, 24, is entering the final year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $925,000.

Defenseman Isaac Belliveau – Entering the first year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $875,000, Belliveau, 20, was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round (No. 154 overall) in the 2021 NHL draft. Last season, at the junior level, Belliveau appeared in 55 games with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and scored 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists).

Forward Avery Hayes – Entering the first year of a two-year AHL contract, the undrafted Hayes, 20, split the 2022-23 season at the junior level between the Hamilton Bulldogs and Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 65 OHL games, the right-hander recorded 77 points (43 goals, 34 assists).

Forward Marc Johnstone – Signed to a two-year, two-way contract that has a salary cap hit of $775,000 this past offseason, Johnstone is entering his first season with the organization. A right-handed shot, Johnstone, 27, appeared in 69 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies last season and scored 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists).

Defenseman Justin Lee – Signed to a one-year AHL contract, the 23-year-old Lee is entering his second season with the organization. On an amateur tryout contract last season, Lee appeared in eight games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and did not record a point. The undrafted left-hander concluded his NCAA career last season with the University of Denver, playing in 40 games and scoring 13 points (six goals, seven assists).

Forward Austin Rueschhoff – Signed to a one-year AHL contract, the massive Rueschoff (6-foot-7, 242 pounds) split the 2022-23 season at the AHL level with Hartford and the Milwaukee Admirals. In 52 games, the 26-year-old right-hander had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists).

Defenseman Dmitri Samorukov – A third-round draft pick (No. 84 overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, Samorukov, 24, is signed to a one-year AHL contract. The left-hander spent the 2022-23 season with the St. Louis Blues organization, appearing in two NHL games with no points. At the AHL level last season, Samorukov played in 69 games and scored 20 points (four goals, 16 assists).

Defenseman Jack St. Ivany – Entering the final year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $857,500, St. Ivany, 23, played in 63 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season and recorded eight points. The right-hander was a fourth-round draft pick (No. 112 overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers but never signed with that organization.