O'Connor agreed to terms on a two-year. $1.85 million contract with Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
O'Connor logged 46 games for the Pens last season in which he recorded five goals on 62 shots, six assists and 63 hits while averaging 9:49 of ice time. With his new contract in hand, O'Connor should be in contention for regular appearances in the lineup, likely in a bottom-six role, where he should be capable of reaching the 20-point threshold.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Playing versus Columbus
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O'Connor (upper body) will suit up against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Penguins radio play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
O'Connor put together a decent 2022-23 campaign in which he tallied five goals, six assists and 61 shots in 45 games played, all of which are career bests. Looking ahead to next season, the 24-year-old winger will need a new contract but as a restricted free agent should be back with the Pens.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Game-time call
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O'Connor (upper body) is expected to be a game-time decision for Thursday's regular-season finale versus Columbus, Wes Crosby of NHL.com reports.
O'Connor's status versus Columbus may not be determined until Pittsburgh takes the ice for pregame warmups. He's picked up 11 points through 45 games while skating in a bottom-six role this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Not expected to play
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O'Connor (upper body) won't play Tuesday against Chicago.
O'Connor will miss his second consecutive contest. He has registered 11 points and 61 shots on goal in 45 appearances this season. Alexander Nylander will be in the lineup instead.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Game-time call Tuesday
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O'Connor (upper body) will be a game-time decision versus the Blackhawks on Tuesday.
O'Connor missed Saturday's clash with the Red Wings due to his upper-body issue but could be ready to return against Chicago. The bottom-six winger is currently stuck in an 18-game goal drought during which he managed three assists, 21 shots and 20 hits while averaging 10:30 of ice time. If O'Connor can't play Tuesday, Alexander Nylander figures to step into the lineup.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Out of Saturday's lineup
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O'Connor (upper body) won't be in the lineup Saturday versus Detroit, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
O'Connor took a Matt Dumba hit in the first period Thursday and while he returned to action for the final two periods, he is unable to play Saturday. O'Connor has five goals and 11 points in 45 games this season. Consider him day-to-day.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Back with Penguins
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O'Connor was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, Rob Rossi of The Athletic reports.
O'Connor was sent down Friday in what was a paper move to save salary cap space and make him eligible for the AHL playoffs. O'Connor has eight points in 27 games with the Penguins this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Heads to AHL
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O'Connor was loaned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
O'Connor has chipped in eight points, 40 shots on goal and 41 hits in 27 top-level games this season. He has been productive of late, notching two goals and one assist in his past four NHL appearances.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Nets opening goal vs. Lightning
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O'Connor provided a goal in Pittsburgh's 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
O'Connor opened the scoring just 3:20 into the game. It was his fourth goal and seventh point in 25 outings this season. O'Connor entered the contest averaging 9:02 of ice time in 2022-23, and the 24-year-old is unlikely to make regular offensive contributions unless his role grows substantially.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Back in lineup Tuesday
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O'Connor stepped into a fourth-line role against the Sharks on Tuesday after Ryan Poehling (upper body) was ruled out.
O'Connor had been a healthy scratch for three straight contests prior to Tuesday's tilt. In his last five contests, the 24-year-old natural center generated one goal on six shots, two assists and two hits despite averaging just 8:49 of ice time. O'Connor will likely remain a fringe lineup player the rest of the way and could find himself watching as a healthy scratch periodically.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Scores second goal of 2022-23
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O'Connor scored a goal in a 4-1 loss to Winnipeg on Friday.
O'Connor found the back of the net at 16:42 of the first period to even the contest at 1-1, but the Penguins were unable to build anything from there. O'Connor has two goals and no assists in 10 games this season. He entered the contest averaging just 7:52 of ice time and logged 10:49 on Friday. Unless the 24-year-old's role grows meaningfully, he's unlikely to make regular offensive contributions.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Scores first goal of season
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O'Connor found the back of the net in Pittsburgh's 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit on Wednesday.
O'Connor got the scoring started at 2:36 of the first period. It was his first goal and point in six games in 2022-23. He entered the contest averaging just 7:53 of ice time this season and logged only 5:11 on Wednesday despite his early marker. As long as his role's that limited, the 24-year-old is unlikely to make significant offensive contributions.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Up with Pittsburgh
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O'Connor was called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
O'Connor has appeared in three games with Pittsburgh this season. He also has eight goals and 22 points in 20 AHL contests this campaign.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Back to minors
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O'Connor was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday.
O'Connor is averaging 8:32 of ice time while being held without a point through three games this season. He should see more playing time at the AHL level.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Called up from minors
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O'Connor was promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday.
O'Connor has yet to get into an NHL game this season but could be in line to make his season debut versus the Bruins on Tuesday after Drake Caggiula was sent down in a corresponding move. Still, whether O'Connor gets into the game could depend on the health of Jeff Carter (lower body).
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Assigned to AHL
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O'Connor was cut from the Penguins' training-camp roster Sunday
O'Connor logged three goals and two assists in 22 games last season in Pittsburgh and 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) with AHL Wilkes-Barre. The 24-year-old forward will likely bounce between levels again this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Promoted from AHL
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O'Connor was called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
O'Connor has five points in 22 games at the NHL level this season. He's added 12 goals and 20 assists with the Baby Pens as well, and he should serve as extra forward depth heading into the playoffs.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Inks one-year extension
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O'Connor signed a one-year, $750,000 contract extension with the Penguins on Saturday.
O'Connor has drawn into 22 games with the big club this season, picking up five points over that span. The 23-year-old will likely continue to split time between AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Penguins in 2022-23.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Activated, reassigned to minors
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O'Connor (upper body) was activated off injured reserve and reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday.
O'Connor has played in just two of the Penguins' last 21 games, in part due to his upper-body issue. With Pittsburgh off until Thursday's matchup with the Devils, O'Connor figures to suit up with the Baby Pens on Tuesday and Wednesday and then could be brought back up to the NHL, depending on the health of Teddy Blueger (jaw).
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Approved for full contact
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O'Connor (upper body) has been cleared for contact and is practicing with the team. Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters, "No change at this point other than he is participating in full-contact."
The fact that O'Connor is traveling with the team and a full practice participant is certainly a step in the right direction even if he's still considered week-to-week. Even once cleared to play, the 23-year-old New Jersey native may struggle to secure a place in the lineup and should expect to spend some time watching from the press box as a healthy scratch.
