Hey all. Just a brief mish-mash of things relating to our Penguins (and otherwise).
Close to home, hard-luck defenseman Caleb Jones (pictured) has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substance Policy.
Jones, who missed several months while recovering from an injury to his left foot, was receiving exosome therapy from a provider outside the organization. He believes his positive test for PEDs was a result of a contaminated substance related to the treatments possibly tainting the results.
To say it’s been a tough year for the 28-year-old rearguard is the understatement of the century. Jones was initially injured while blocking a shot during the Pens’ 5-3 victory over Florida on October 23. He suffered a setback on January 14 during his first game of a rehab assignment with the Baby Pens and only recently came off IR again.
Now this.
By my unofficial reckoning, Caleb will be eligible to return in April for the final seven games of the season.
Just my opinion, but I thought he did a nice job during his seven-game stint in October, displaying good mobility and decent chemistry with top prospect Harrison Brunicke. Jones is signed through next season at a cap hit of $900K.
Larsson Waived
The Pens have waived minor-league goalie Filip Larsson for the purpose of terminating his contract. Signed as a free-agent in the summer of 2024, the 27-year-old netminder served as the primary backup for the Baby Pens last season while posting a 2.84 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 28 games.
This season’s been a different story, with the former sixth-round pick of the Red Wings seeing limited duty (nine games) at Wilkes while serving as a third wheel behind top prospects Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist.
Larsson, who requested the termination, is now a free agent. Here’s hoping he finds an opportunity to his liking.
Dumba Honored
In the midst of a bumpy season, Baby Pens defenseman Matt Dumba was named AHL Player of the Week. The 31-year-old veteran tallied a goal and five assists in victories over Syracuse and Lehigh Valley while earning top-star honors both games.
Prior to the game with the Crunch, he promised to try and score a goal for a young cancer patient named Sophia…then delivered in true storybook fashion. Heartwarming to say the least.
A former seventh-overall pick of the Wild in 2012, Dumba opened the season with the Pens, but saw only infrequent duty (11 games) before being waived and re-assigned to the Baby Pens in December. Following a bit of an uninspired start that included consecutive games with minus-4 ratings, Matt’s come on like gangbusters of late with seven points and a plus-6 in his past three games.
McKenna Charged
In a development that can only be described as shocking, Penn State forward Gavin McKenna has been charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and two summary counts of disorderly conduct for harassment and engaging in a fight at a bar this past Saturday night.
According to accounts of the incident, the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft punched a 21-year-old male in the face, causing significant injuries that required surgery.
Reports also indicate the male had been verbally harassing a family member of McKenna’s, believed to be his mother.
The maximum penalty for first-degree felony aggravated assault in Pennsylvania is 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine.
I’ll refrain from sermonizing. Let’s hope the voice of reason prevails and justice is served, never a given in this day and age.
Breadman on the Move
The Rangers traded star forward Artemi Panarin to the Kings (head scratch?) for 20-year-old forward prospect Liam Greentree and two picks, a conditional third-rounder in 2026 and a fourth-rounder in 2028.
A UFA-to-be, Panarin promptly signed a two-year deal with the Kings at an AAV of $11 million.
At first blush, it seems like a fairly light price to pay for one of the top offensive players in the NHL. However, Greentree, a 6’3” 216-pound bull of a power forward, has put up big numbers throughout his junior career at Windsor, including 119 points a season ago. And the Rangers are in desperate need of young talent.
Still, the Kings, a Mulligan’s stew of young and old and hardly a top Cup contender, seems an odd destination for the 34-year-old star.
Maybe he likes Disneyland.