More Injury Concerns? Penguins Recall Zach Trotman from WBS

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled defenseman Zach Trotman from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL on Thursday morning, according to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.

The move raises the question if Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson is healthy. Johnson left the game in the first period Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. He returned to finish the game and played over 17 minutes. The Penguins did not hold a morning skate. Johnson played all 82 games for the Penguins last season. Update: As some readers pointed out, defenseman Justin Schultz was also injured at Penguins practice on Wednesday.

Chad Ruhwedel was the only spare defenseman on the Penguins roster.

Trotman, 29, is a defensive defenseman at the NHL level. However, in eight games this season with the WBS Penguins, Trotman has five points, (2g, 3a). Trotman has one assist in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season as the Penguins blue line frequently suffered injuries.

A 6-foot-3, 217-pound native of Carmel, Indiana, Trotman has 13 points (3g, 10a) in 83 career NHL games spread between the Penguins and the Boston Bruins. At the AHL level split with the Providence Bruins, Ontario Reign, and WBS, Trotman has played in 240 games, accumulating 85 points (23G-62A).

The Penguins complete their old fashioned home-and-home against the New York Islanders tonight at the Barclays Center. New York rallied from two two-goal deficits to beat the Penguins in overtime Tuesday night, 5-4. Brock Nelson had a pair of goals including the overtime winner.

Injured forward Patric Hornqvist will be a game-time decision Thursday night. Hornqvist has been out since early November but has been a full participant at the last two-Penguins practices.