Penguins forward Jansen Harkins diagnosed with concussion

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jansen Harkins has been diagnosed with a concussion. His status was announced by coach Mike Sullivan on Monday following a practice session in Cranberry.

Later in the afternoon, Harkins was designated to injured reserve. Given the uncertain nature of concussions, no time frame for a recovery was provided.

During a 2-1 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, Harkins did not record a shift beyond the 14:26 mark of the second period.

Primarily deployed as a left wing on the fourth line, Harkins has played in 34 games and has four assists while averaging 8:23 of ice time per contest.

Others absences

• A handful of players were absent from practice. Most notably, forward Evgeni Malkin did not participate for what was termed as a “maintenance day.”

Malkin did take to the ice approximately 20 minutes before practice began and skated while wearing gym clothing as head athletic trainer Chris Stewart monitored him from the bench.

Evgeni Malkin, in gym clothes, is taking a twirl about 20 minutes before practice is scheduled to start.

Head athletic trainer Chris Stewart is watching from the bench. pic.twitter.com/wYPSU6JTq0

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) February 12, 2024

This was the second practice session in five days Malkin has been absent for a “maintenance day.” He previously sat out a session on Thursday. The exact nature of what is ailing him has not been identified.

• Forward Noel Acciari, who has missed the past two games due to a concussion, skated prior to practice and is making progress according to Sullivan.

• Defenseman Kris Letang participated in practice for approximately a half hour before departing. According to Sullivan, Letang is “nicked up” and left early as a precaution.

• Forward Matt Nieto, who underwent surgery on his right knee in early January, is status quo. He has missed the past 27 games due to his ailment and is approximately five-and-a-half weeks into a recovery process which the team announced as six to eight weeks.

Empty net etiquette

During the late stages of the Ottawa Senators’ 5-3 home win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, Senators forward Ridly Greig capped the scoring with an empty net goal which he scored with an emphatic slapshot from below the hashmarks.

Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly did not appreciate the flamboyant display and responded by cross checking Greig in the head. As a result, Reilly is facing a disciplinary hearing with the NHL and could be facing a lengthy suspension.

On Monday, a small sample of the Penguins’ roster acknowledged Reilly’s actions were excessive but suggested his sentiment was understandable.

“I don’t know if the slap shot was needed,” said Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, who has scored 19 empty net goals in his career. “I don’t know what happened in the game so I’m not sure what’s going on there. I don’t know why he did it. A cross check to the face is a little overboard. For both ends, it’s not ideal.”

Defenseman Ryan Graves cited respect as the crux of the matter.

“I don’t know if there was something that led up to that, but I know that if I were Reilly, I would take exception,” Graves said. “I wouldn’t crosscheck him in the back of the head just because you don’t want that suspension. … The more physical the sport (is), I think there’s a higher level of respect. You see that in boxing, (mixed martial arts), things like that. Hockey is one of those sports where you really ride that line of physicality, competing, you’re on that edge all the time.

“If there was nothing that led to that, it’s a little bit uncalled for. It’s a kind of disrespect to (the Maple Leafs). This is a game that requires respect. I don’t know what led up to that but I know if nothing led up to that, I would take exception to that as well.”

Minor league moves

KDP Studio

In 10 AHL games this season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Raivis Ansons has four points (two goals, two assists).

• The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) recalled forward Raivis Ansons from the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

• Forward Cédric Desruisseaux, the Nailers’ second-leading scorer this season with 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in 40 games, has left the team and signed with Västerviks IK in Sweden’s Allsvensken league.