Penguins forward Kasper Bjorkqvist earned recall on merit
A day after being recalled to the NHL roster, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasper Bjorkqvist was a healthy scratch for Tuesday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PPG Paints Arena.
Monday’s transaction was Bjorkqvist’s first in-season recall since he was selected by the Penguins in the second round (No. 61 overall) of the 2016 draft. During the 2021 postseason, Bjorkqvist was part of a group of players recalled to serve as “Black Aces” (i.e. prospects or minor-leaguers who are summoned to the NHL level for the benefit of furthering their development).
Opening this season on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ roster and primarily deployed on the left wing of the second line, Bjorkqvist has appeared in four American Hockey League (AHL) games and has one goal.
With the NHL Penguins missing the services of forwards Jeff Carter (covid-19) and Bryan Rust, Bjorkqvist was recalled after management got positive reports from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s coaches.
“He’s been one of their best forwards,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “That was one of the decisions-makers in why Kasper got called up. It is, without question, merit-based.”
Bjorkqvist, 24, has had something of a circuitous route to the NHL. After being drafted, the Finnish native spent three seasons getting acclimated to North America playing in the NCAA ranks with Providence. After serving as the Friars’ captain during his junior season (2018-19), Bjorkqvist opted to turn professional.
His full first campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2019-20) was limited to five games after he suffered a knee injury in October 2019. By the time he was recovered, most leagues in North America were on hiatus because of the pandemic, so the Penguins loaned him to KooKoo of Finland’s Liiga.
Once that league’s season was completed this past spring, Bjorkqvist rejoined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the final days of the 2020-21 season before being recalled as a Black Ace.
This past offseason, he re-signed with the Penguins, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract.
After a respectable preseason in which he had two points (one goal, one assist) in five games, Bjorkqvist was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
“I thought he had a real strong preseason,” Sullivan said. “With each additional year that he gets, I think he gets a little bit more confident. His pace has improved. Kasper is a guy that I think has the ability to play at this level and be a real conscientious player. He’s a big body, he’s strong on the puck, he’s a real good penalty killer, he’s strong on the walls (and) the battle areas. I would anticipate him being a really good role player.
“We’re really encouraged with the progress that he’s made. We’re certainly excited that he’s part of this group of the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the extended group. It’s hard to win a Stanley Cup (title) with just 12 forwards and six defensemen and two goalies. It takes a whole lot more than that, and Kasper is in the conversation right now.”
Defenseman Juuso Riikola was also a healthy scratch.
Carter, Letang updates
Sullivan said forward Jeff Carter continues to be asymptomatic as he remains in isolation following a positive test for covid-19. Defenseman Kris Letang is symptomatic, however.
Both players officially were placed on the NHL’s list for covid-19 protocol Monday.
Almeida, Nappier sent to Wheeling
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins assigned forward Justin Almeida and goaltender Tommy Nappier to the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.
Almeida, a fifth-round pick (No. 129 overall) in 2018, is in the final year of a three-year entry-level contract he signed in 2019.
Nappier is signed to an AHL contract.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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