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Pittsburgh Penguins assign Filip Hallander to AHL in key conditioning move
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Filip Hallander hits a conditioning loan to the WBS Penguins, and the Pittsburgh Penguins need his legs back for the stretch run.
This move is about reps, not banishment. A conditioning loan is the cleanest way to get timing back without rushing him into NHL minutes.
Hallander signed a two-year deal last spring with a $775,000 cap hit through 2026-27.
He’s 25, drafted in 2018, Round 2, 58th overall by Pittsburgh. That profile screams “useful middle-six plug” when he’s right.
This season he’s logged 13 NHL games with 1-3-4. The points are fine, the bigger thing is whether the stride looks normal again.
The backdrop matters, Hallander missed at least three months after a blood clot diagnosis earlier this season. Getting back into game contact is the real test.
Pittsburgh can’t afford passengers right now. They’re 29-15-12 and sitting second in the Metro as of Wednesday.
Filip Hallander gives the Pittsburgh Penguins a real option
If you’re a Pens fan, you’re probably torn between optimism and nerves, because “conditioning” usually means “please stay healthy for once.”
In the short term, the NHL lineup spot stays open for a hotter hand. In the medium term, Hallander’s return could stabilize the third line and the second penalty-kill unit.
The coaching staff will care about details first. Short shifts, wall battles, and whether he wins inside body position instead of reaching.
If Hallander pops in the AHL, the call-up becomes easy. If he looks hesitant, the Penguins can slow-play it without burning points.
Cap-wise, this is low drama. His cap hit is manageable, and the bigger cost is opportunity if he can’t reclaim a role.
Either way, this is a real checkpoint. The next Penguins game after the break is where the conversation flips from “when” to “can he help.”
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