Penguins Moves: Demote Puustinen, Recall Zohorna, Sign O’Connor

The Pittsburgh Penguins took care of a few housekeeping items on Saturday afternoon, including a surprise demotion.

One day after making his NHL debut, the Penguins re-assigned winger Valtteri Puustinen to the WBS Penguins. Puustinen, 22, had one assist in his debut as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vegas Golden Knights, 5-2 on Friday at PPG Paints Arena.

Puustinen skated on the third line at practice on Saturday while winger Kasperi Kapanen was on the left wing.

However, Saturday afternoon, the Penguins recalled Radim Zohorna, a natural LW. Kapanen will likely flip to RW on Sunday at the Penguins host the Carolina Hurricanes.

Zohorna has two points, including one goal in eight NHL games this season. He’s also a plus-5. This season, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward skated in 31 games for WBS, with seven goals, eight assists, and 15 points.

Drew O’Connor New Contract:

The Penguins and GM Ron Hextall also signed Drew O’Connor to a new one-year contract which will carry him through 2022-23. It is a one-way deal, which will pay him $750,000.

O’Connor is in his second professional season. This season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he dressed for 22 games. O’Connor scored five points (3-2-5). With WBS, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward has 14 points (7-7-14) in 13 games. His 1.08 points-per-game average leads WBS.

In his career, the Chatham, NJ native has six points (3-3-6) in 32 NHL games and has 33 points (14-19-33) in 33 AHL games.