Pens Points has all the latest from what was a relatively quiet day from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was a quiet day in the Pittsburgh Penguins sphere on Wednesday with the team off from all hockey activities with the extra day of rest before heading to Newark on Friday for a showdown with the New Jersey Devils.
Pens Points…
Hard work paid off for Boko Imama this season and earned with a call up to the NHL before going down with a bicep injury. For his efforts, Imama was named the Penguins 2025 Masterson nominee by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the PHWA. [Pensburgh]
Good guy Tristan Jarry tried his best to help an opponent in need on Tuesday night, but his best intentions did not go as planned. In an attempt to give Frank Nazar a push to the bench area, Jarry accidentally knocked the skater off balance. [Sports Illustrated]
Ray Shero, the former Penguins general manager who helped guide the franchise to its third Stanley Cup title in 2009, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 62. Shero was currently working as a senior advisor with the Minnesota Wild. [Pensburgh]
Ray Shero was the first person to give Dan Bylsma a head coaching job in the NHL, and their bond far outlasted Pittsburgh. When Bylsma learned on Wednesday that his mentor had passed, all he could do was reflect on the memories. [The Athletic $$]
Throughout the year, the Mario Lemieux Foundation hosts numerous fundraisers, but none are bigger than the annual Mario Lemieux Fantasy Camp, which provides a one-in-a-lifetime experience to all who attend while raising over $5 million. [Penguins]
NHL News and Notes…
After three years recovering from multiple knee surgeries, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog is on the verge of returning to the NHL. Landeskog will return to game action in the AHL on a conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles. [The Hockey News]
Best wishes to Jake Guentzel, who missed last night’s big Tampa/Toronto game due to family reasons. [Sportsnet]
In a bit of unwanted history, the Buffalo Sabres have officially missed the playoffs 14 seasons in a row, setting an NHL record. Back at Thanksgiving, the Sabres sat on the playoff bubble, but a 13-game losing streak left little doubt on the season outcome. [NHL]
As is tradition every time the Stanley Cup playoffs roll around, discussion is heating up on the playoff format. There are no plans to revert back to the old system if Gary Bettman is to be believed, but fans increasingly hate the system in place. [Mile High Hockey]