The Penguins’ personnel carousel continued to spin on Sunday as the team assigned two forwards to the Baby Pens. One was a bit of a surprise. The other? Perhaps not so much.
In the latter category, veteran Danton Heinen was reassigned to Wilkes, where he started the season. The Langley, B.C. native was leading the AHL in scoring at the time of his recall to the Pens on November 4. However, the offensive surge didn’t carry over to his time here (a lone assist in nine games).
Oddly enough, his underlying numbers? Fantastic. Heinen leads the Pens in Corsi (58.19) and Expected Goals for Percentage (59.66), is second Scoring Chances for Percentage (60) and High-Danger Chances for Percentage (61.11), and third in Shots for Percentage (55.26).
He looked faster and more involved to me, too. Unfortunately, on the scoreboard where the rubber hits the road…or ice?
Zip.
As for the surprise? Tristan Broz (pictured) was returned to Baby Pens after making his NHL debut, then sitting out the last two, which made absolutely no sense to me. Neither does this demotion, unless…
…the Pens are getting a couple of forwards back from IR.
Although nothing’s been formally announced as of this post, could Justin Brazeau and Rickard Rakell be poised to return to the lineup?
Sure hope so.
Stay tuned.