Penguins Sign Yannick Weber; Dumoulin AND Marino Absent

According to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Penguins defensemen Brian Dumoulin and John Marino were absent from practice at the TD Garden in Boston on Wednesday afternoon. Both were injured in the Penguins 3-2 OT loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

The Penguins also signed defenseman Yannick Weber to a two-way deal worth $750,000 this season, according to Pierre LeBrun on Twitter, who quoted the NHL waiver list. Weber is a right-handed d-man and spent the last four seasons with the Nashville Predators.

Weber, 32, has played 497 NHL games split between Nashville, the Vancouver Canucks (2013-2016), and the Montreal Canadiens (2018-2013). He has 28 career goals and 66 assists in his 12-year career.

Weber must clear waivers before the Penguins can add him to the roster. It’s unknown if he’ll be placed on the taxi-squad or the NHL roster.

The Penguins defense corps is decimated by injuries. Five defenders, including four LHD, are out or could be out with injury.

Mike Matheson was termed out “longer-term” after he was tripped and hit the end wall hard in the second game of the season in Philadelphia. Marcus Pettersson was deemed out “week-to-week” by Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan last week. Juuso Riikola was also deemed out “longer-term.”

Dumoulin and Marino would not only make five of the Penguins nine defensemen on the opening day roster, and four of the opening night six, who are injured.

Dumoulin, 29,  did an awkward split as he attempted to change direction near the net. The injury occurred in the final seconds of the second period. The top-pairing defenseman did not play in the third period.

Marino received a cross-check and midsection hit late in the third period. He was in obvious pain. Marino finished the game, including the 3v3 overtime.

Also at Pittsburgh Penguins Practice

Defenseman Mike Matheson did participate but in a non-contact jersey. Matheson has been out since this hit from Nicolas Aube-Kubel. 

Penguins fourth line winger Zach Aston-Reese was a participant at practice. According to the team, he was a full participant. Aston-Reese is in the second year of a two-year, $2 million deal. He had left shoulder surgery in August after the NHL postseason and has not played yet this season.

Wednesday’s practice would be the first time he appeared as a full participant in practice this season.

The Penguins postponed the media availability scheduled for immediately after practice.