Riikola agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Swedish club IK Oskarshamn on Wednesday.
Riikola played in 80 games for the Penguins over the last four years in which he generated three goals, 10 assists and 178 hits while averaging just 15:05 of ice time. At 28 years of age, the Finnish defenseman could still make his way back to North America if he puts together a strong campaign overseas.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Assigned to AHL affiliate
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Riikola was demoted from the taxi squad to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.
Riikola will rejoin AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he has distributed 11 assists and lit the lamp once over 17 appearances in 2021-22.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Added to taxi squad
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Riikola was elevated to the taxi squad Tuesday.
Riikola has been limited to just five appearances for the Penguins this season in which he has registered one assist, seven shots and 13 hits while averaging just 13:23 of ice time. The decision to bring Riikola up to the taxi squad ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Capitals could be an indication there is an injury on the blue line.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Assigned to AHL affiliate
Rotowire
Riikola was demoted from the active roster to AHL Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
Riikola did not make an NHL appearance during his recent stint on the active roster. He has averaged 13:23 of ice time -- 1:43 during the power play -- and tallied one assist over five NHL appearances this season. The 28-year-old will rejoin AHL Wilkes-Barre where he has distributed six assists over 10 appearances in 2021-22.
Riikola was recalled to the Penguins' active roster Saturday but won't play in Dallas, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Riikola has bounced between rosters throughout the season but has only played in five games for the Penguins. He'll serve as a depth defenseman and could slot into the lineup if any regular blueliners become unavailable in the near future.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Recalled to taxi squad
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Riikola was promoted to Pittsburgh's taxi squad Tuesday.
Riikola has logged five games for the Pens this season in which he has tallied one assist, seven shots and 13 hits. With both Mike Matheson and John Marino in the league's COVID-19 protocols, Riikola figures to have the inside track to step into the lineup against Ottawa on Friday, though he will need to be added to the active roster first.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Sent back to AHL
Rotowire
Riikola was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday.
Riikola has played in five NHL contests this season, chipping in an assist and 13 hits over 13:23 of average ice time. He was sent down. With Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson clearing COVID-19 protocols Sunday in corresponding moves on the Penguins' blue line, Riikola will head back to the minors for now.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Back with Penguins
Rotowire
The Penguins recalled Riikola from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
A day after being sent down, Riikola rejoins the NHL club, presumably to replace Marcus Pettersson (COVID-19) in the lineup. Riikola has played in four straight games with the Penguins and has tallied one assist while averaging 12:57 of ice time.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Off active roster
Rotowire
Per Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com, Riikola is no longer listed on Pittsburgh's active roster, indicating he's been assigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Riikola's demotion indicates Chad Ruhwedel (not injury related) and Marcus Pettersson (not injury related) will both likely be available for Thursday's game against the Panthers. Riikola's picked up one helper through four top-level games this campaign.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Summoned by parent club
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Riikola was recalled by the Penguins on Saturday.
Riikola will be on hand as an extra defenseman for Saturday's matchup with the Maple Leafs. The 27-year-old blueliner went scoreless through two games with the Penguins last season.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Waived Friday
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Riikola was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh on Friday in order to move him to the minors, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
Riikola just can't seem to break into the Penguins' lineup and figures to start another season in the minors with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 27-year-old Finn will no doubt sit atop the list of potential call-ups throughout the year. With Riikola demoted to the minors, Chad Ruhwedel and Mark Friedman should split the final spot on the blue line while periodically serving as a healthy scratch.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Dropped to taxi squad
Rotowire
Riikola was reassigned to the taxi squad Monday.
Riikola hasn't played in a game since Jan. 19 versus Washington, in which he logged 8:20 of ice time. Even if the Penguins suffer an injury on the blue line, Riikola probably wouldn't get into the lineup, as Chad Ruhwedel figures to be ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Lifted from LTIR
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Riikola (upper body) was activated from long-term injured reserve Tuesday.
The 27-year-old has missed the past 20 games. Riikola served as a healthy scratch before this injury, so he's not guaranteed to enter the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against the Rangers. Nevertheless, Riikola has been skating in a regular jersey for more than two weeks, so he'll be ready when called upon. Over 36 games last year, Riikola provided seven points and 74 hits.
Riikola (upper body) was a full participant for Monday's practice session, Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Riikola's return will certainly give the Penguins some added depth on the blue line, but with the emergence of Pierre-Olivier Joseph and the recent play of Cody Ceci there isn't a clear path to playing time. As such, the Finn is unlikely to provide much in the way of fantasy value once activated off injured reserve.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Dons non-contract jersey
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Riikola (upper body) was on the ice for Friday's practice session sporting a non-contact sweater, Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Riikola continues to make strides in his recovery, but the fact he hasn't been cleared for contact yet makes it highly unlikely he'll be available against the Islanders on Saturday. Even once cleared to play, the Finnish blueliner is unlikely to crack the lineup over Cody Ceci and Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Skates with taxi squad group
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Riikola (upper body) practiced with the taxi squad Thursday.
At this point, Riikola appears to be the furthest along in terms of the Penguins' players on injured reserve. Still, the Finnish blueliner will need to first practice with the full roster before he is a candidate to return to the lineup. Even healthy, Riikola could struggle for minutes and end up watching from the press box more often than not.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Designated for long-term IR
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Riikola (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 19, Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
At a minimum, Riikola will be out of action for the Penguins' next seven contests, with his earliest possible return coming Feb 11 against the Islanders. Whether the Finn immediately jumps back into the lineup will likely depend on the availability of Mike Matheson (upper body), Brian Dumoulin (lower body) and Marcus Pettersson (upper body). When dealing with a full complement of defensemen, Riikola figures to serve as a healthy scratch, which could be further complicated by the emergence of Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Facing long-term absence
Rotowire
Riikola (upper body) is expected to be out of the lineup long term according to coach Mike Sullivan, Pens Inside Scoop reports.
Considering Riikola was filling in for the injured Mike Matheson (upper body), the Penguins find themselves drastically thin on the blue line after Marcus Pettersson (upper body) was labeled week-to-week. While the team didn't provide a specific timeline for Riikola's return, it likely will be a number of weeks and therefore should be considered a near-lock for injured reserve. In his stead, Chad Ruhwedel and Cody Ceci should both see increased opportunities, though youngster Pierre-Olivier Joseph could also be in the mix.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Injury details clarified
Rotowire
Riikola suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's game versus the Capitals.
Riikola was hurt some time during the second period and did not return to the contest. His status for Friday's game against the Rangers is to be determined. If Riikola is out, Cody Ceci will likely enter the lineup.
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Penguins' Juuso Riikola: Injured Tuesday
Rotowire
Riikola (undisclosed) did not join the Penguins on the bench to start the third period of Tuesday's game versus the Capitals.
It's unclear how Riikola got injured, as he didn't appear to leave the ice under unusual circumstances in the second period. Riikola joins Marcus Pettersson as injuries to the Penguins' defense Tuesday. If neither of them are ready go for Friday's game against the Rangers, Cody Ceci will likely rejoin the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch.
