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Penguins Make Roster Move Involving Former Maple Leafs Defenseman
Photo credit: Edit from Sportsnet
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled former Maple Leafs defenseman Filip Kral from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the final stretch of the season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Filip Kral from their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as reported on both the NHL and AHL official websites.
Though the team has not officially announced it, the deal was quietly confirmed through league records.
Kral, 25, has been productive in his AHL campaign, posting 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 59 games. The 6-2, 198-pound left-shot blue liner signed with Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent last summer.
Kral is expected to become a free agent this summer
He signed a one-year, two-way deal for $775,000 and will once again be a free agent this summer. This is Kral's first NHL call-up with the Penguins, although he is far from a rookie in the league.
He played two earlier games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022-23 season after being drafted by them in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
A Czechia native, Kral's recall continues a long line for the Penguins, as 34 straight seasons have included at least one Czech Republic-born player on the NHL roster, a streak that began with Jaromir Jagr's arrival in the 1990-91 season.
The Penguins also made a few other moves today as well, as the team gears up for the final week of the season.
Other transactions that happened within the organization on Monday included goaltender Sergei Murashov being assigned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Wheeling of the ECHL. Concurrently, goaltender Taylor Gauthier was promoted from Wheeling to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Additionally, forward Jack Beck, signed to an AHL contract, was moved from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Wheeling.
Additionally, forward Jack Beck, signed to an AHL contract, was moved from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Wheeling.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 14 | 139 ANSWERS Penguins Make Roster Move Involving Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Will Filip Kral find success in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 69 | 49.6 % |
| No | 70 | 50.4 % |
| List of polls | ||