Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Headed back to Finland
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Bjorkqvist agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Finnish club Karpat on Tuesday, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Bjorkqvist played in only six games for the Penguins this season in which he generated one goal, eight shots and nine hits while averaging just 8:22 of ice time. The 24-year-old winger is slated to be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means the Penguins could retain his NHL rights by giving him a qualifying offer, but fantasy players shouldn't be expecting him to play in North America for at least the next two years.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Back to minors
Rotowire
Bjorkqvsit was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday.
With Evgeni Malkin (illness) back in the lineup, Bjorkqvist will head back to the minors. The 24-year-old has one goal through six NHL appearances.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Recalled from minors
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
Bjorkqvist figures to serve as an emergency forward option in the event Evgeni Malkin (illness) is unable to play against the Red Wings on Sunday. In six NHL games this year, the Finnish winger has notched one goal on eight shots, nine hits and two blocks while averaging 8:22 of ice time.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Shipped down to minors
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.
Bjorkqvist will link up with the Baby Pens for Wednesday's matchup with AHL Cleveland before potentially being called back up to the NHL ahead of Pittsburgh's clash with the Golden Knights on Friday, though that will depend on the health of Jason Zucker (lower body).
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Recalled from AHL
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Bjorkqvist was promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, per Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Bjorkqvist has tallied six points over 33 AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton performances this season. The 24-year-old's most recent NHL appearance was Jan. 13 in a 6-2 loss to Los Angeles.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Returned to AHL affiliate
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.
The NHL is about to enter its All-Star break, so Bjorkqvist will head to the minors for the time being. He's tallied one goal through six top-level appearances this year.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Returns to AHL
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was reassigned from the taxi squad to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
Bjorkqvist has averaged 8:22 of ice time over six appearances this season. The 24-year-old scored one goal Jan. 2 in an 8-5 win over San Jose and has not recorded an NHL point since.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Back to taxi squad
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was demoted to the taxi squad Monday.
Bjorkqvist notched a goal in his NHL debut but has been held without a point in his last five appearances. The 24-year-old will likely head back to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the near future barring more injuries at the NHL level.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Joins Penguins
Rotowire
The Penguins recalled Bjorkqvist from the taxi squad prior to Sunday's game against the Sharks, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Bjorkqvist could be called upon to make his NHL debut Sunday, as multiple regular forwards remain unavailable for Pittsburgh. If he dresses, the 24-year-old would likely play bottom-line minutes.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: On taxi squad
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was recalled to the Penguins' taxi squad Tuesday.
While Bjorkqvist wasn't added to the Pens' active roster, the team may need his services against the Senators on Friday unless Dominik Simon, Evan Rodrigues or Teddy Blueger is cleared of the league's COVID-19 protocols. In 17 minor-league contests this year, the 24-year-old Bjorkqvist has tallied two goals and one assist and will likely see minimal minutes in a fourth-line role if he does play Friday.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Bjorkqvist didn't get into a game during his recent ascension to the NHL, instead serving as an emergency depth option. With both Jeff Carter (COVID-19) and Sidney Crosby (wrist) nearing a return to action, Bjorkqvist services were no longer needed. The 24-year-old winger figures to spend the bulk of the year playing in the minors.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Promoted to NHL
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday.
Bjorkqvist has tallied one goal and four PIM through four games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He's was likely recalled for depth purposes but he has a chance to make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Lightning while the Penguins deal with various injured forwards.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Staying in Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Penguins on Saturday.
Bjorkqvist was on the postseason roster with Pittsburgh last season but has yet to make his debut with the big club. He tallied 11 goals and 26 points in 44 games with KooKoo of the Finnish Elite League and has two goals in 11 AHL games over the last two seasons. The Providence product could see some NHL time during the 2021-22 campaign as a bottom-six forward but will likely start out with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Recalled Tuesday
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist was promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
Bjorkqvist started the 2020-21 campaign with Finnish club KooKoo for which he racked up 11 goals and 15 helpers in 44 contests. The 23-year-old saw action in the final five games of the year for the Baby Pens and will now join Pittsburgh as an emergency depth option for the postseason.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Loaned to Finnish team
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist will spend the entire 2020-21 campaign in Finland with KooKoo.
Bjorkstrand was limited to just six games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton due to a knee injury this season. In three years at Providence College, the 23-year-old winger racked up 60 points in 112 appearances. Unlike most recent loans, Bjorkstrand's stint is not expected to be short term but rather is set to last for the entire 2020-21 campaign.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: In action Thursday
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist (shoulder) will be in the lineup for Thursday's preseason clash with Columbus.
Bjorkqvist was held out of the first preseason game, but will slot into Thursday's matchup after missing the prospect tournament. The winger almost certainly won't make the 23-man roster for Opening Night versus the Sabres on Oct. 3, but could put himself in position to earn a call-up during the 2019-20 campaign with a strong showing. It will be the first taste of professional hockey for the 22-year-old, who spent the past three seasons playing for Providence College and racking up 36 goals and 26 assists in 112 appearances.
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Penguins' Kasper Bjorkqvist: Held out of prospect tournament
Rotowire
Bjorkqvist (shoulder) won't be joining the Penguins' youngsters at the club's prospect tournament, Michelle Crechiolo of Pens Inside Scoop reports.
Bjorkqvist is continuing to recover from a shoulder injury suffered at the end of the 2018-19 season, but was able to join the prospect group on the ice prior to the tournament. The winger almost certainly won't make the 23-man roster, but a strong showing in camp would put him on the radar for a potential call-up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year.
Bjorkqvist signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Bjorkqvist -- who is recovering from shoulder surgery per Mark Divver of The Providence Journal -- will forgo his final year of eligibility at Providence College in order to go pro. The Finnish winger notched 17 goals and 13 helpers in 42 outings with the Friars this year. Even if he is fully fit in time for training camp, the 21-year-old figures to start the season in the minors with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
