While the NHL and most leagues in North America are still on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, several leagues in Europe and a handful in North America have already opened play for the 2020-21 season.

Twenty of the Penguins’ prospects or minor leaguers have played this season, primarily in Europe. Here is a weekly look at their progress:

• Penguins forward prospects Jan Drozg and Radim Zohorna had their loan agreements in Europe terminated and were expected to travel to the United States to participate in the Penguins’ training camp.

On Dec. 20, Drozg, 21, parted ways with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, a team based in is native Slovenia that plays in the multi-country Alps Hockey League. In 10 games with Ljubljana, Drozg had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists).

A fifth-round draft pick (No. 152 overall) in 2017, Drozg is entering the second year of a three-year entry-level contract.

Zohorna, 21, had his loan to BK Malada Boleslav of the Czech Republic’s ELH terminated Dec. 21. In 21 games this season, the Czech native had 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists).

Undrafted, Zohorna signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins in April.

• Finland’s Liiga returned to action over the past week after being on hiatus for most of December because of coronavirus concerns.

On Sunday, forward Kasper Bjorkqvist recorded an assist for KooKoo in a 4-3 home loss to Ilves, on Sunday. The 23-year-old Bjorkqvist was the Penguins’ second-round pick in 2016 (No. 61 overall) and is entering the second year of a two-year entry-level contract.

• Earlier on Sunday, Ilves announced defenseman Santeri Airola would remain sidelined for undisclosed reasons until an unspecified date in January.

Various injuries have limited Airola to two games this season, each with KooVee in Finland’s second-tier Mestis league. A seventh-round pick (No. 211 overall) in 2019, the 20-year-old Airola has yet to sign with the Penguins.

• Goaltenders Joel Blomqvist (Finland) and Calle Clang (Sweden) are each participating in the ongoing International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship tournament which opened play Friday but neither has played in a game as of yet.

Each 18, Blomqvist (second round, No. 52 overall) and Clang (third round, No. 77 overall) were selected in this year’s draft and have yet to sign with the Penguins.

• Because of coronavirus concerns, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) pushed its date to resume play from Jan. 3 to Jan. 22. That league has not played since Nov. 29.

Two of the Penguins’ draft picks from 2019, forwards Sam Poulin (first round, No. 21 overall) and Nathan Legare (third rounder, No. 74 overall) are currently members of the Sherbrooke Phoenix and Val-d’Or Foreurs, respectively, in that league. Both players, each 19, are signed to three-year entry-level contracts that have yet to begin.

• In Russia’s KHL, forward Pontus Aberg scored two goals for Traktor Chelyabinsk in a 3-2 road win against HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, on Thursday.

Aberg, 27, is an unsigned restricted free agent whose rights the Penguins acquired from the Maple Leafs in an August trade.

Statistics

Forwards and defensemen

Goaltenders

*-Current teams

(All figures are through Sunday.)

Follow the Penguins all season long.

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