CRANBERRY — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell was one of four injured Pittsburgh Penguins players to skate before practice Monday, but the Penguins made bigger news when Filip Hallander skated, and the team recalled Tristan Broz from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Penguins announced Rakell underwent successful wrist surgery on Oct. 26. His timeline to return to play was set at six to eight weeks, putting his return sometime in December.

Rakell engaged in light puckhandling, but did not shoot. A fluorescent green brace could be seen beneath his glove.

In recent games, coach Dan Muse used Connor Dewar in Rakell’s spot so that he could return rookie Ben Kindel to the third-line spot.

It’s not the first time Rakell has been on the ice, but his puckwork was light and did not include shooting.

Hallander is believed to have been on the ice for the first time since his absence, which began with an innocuous injury on Nov. 3. The Penguins’ rookie winger was off to a nice start this season. He had four points, including his first NHL goal in 13 games.

However, doctors diagnosed Hallander with a blood clot. On Nov. 7, his diagnosis changed from day-to-day to out much longer when the Penguins announced he would miss at least three months.

Hallander skated solo and did not engage in heavy skating or drills.

Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari also skated as part of the injured players’ workout.

Tristan Broz

The Penguins’ scrappy prospect, who has paid his dues with two seasons in the USHL, three seasons of college hockey, mostly at Denver, and is in his second year of pro hockey, could soon make his awaited NHL debut.

Broz, 23, had a standout training camp but was a victim of a crowded roster as Kindel passed him on the depth chart. He has 13 points, including eight goals in 18 games. Broz largely functions as the No. 1 center for the WBS Penguins.

He was the Penguins’ top draft selection in 2021, selected in the second round (58th overall). The 6-foot, 205-pound forward plays mostly center, but the Penguins’ recent struggles to find depth scoring could place him anywhere in the lineup.

Tags: filip hallander Pittsburgh Penguins Tristan broz

Categorized: Penguins News