One of the Penguins’ top PTO players likely won’t be making the team due to injury.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, whom the Pens signed to a PTO, was looking to continue his journeyman NHL career. He was looking solid and looked like a player who was going to make it onto the team. However, he was played on the injury list on Tuesday, announced by Head Coach Mike Sullivan.
The reasoning is unknown, but Sullivan said ahead of the Pens’ preseason game versus Detroit yesterday that he would be out “longer-term” with a lower-body injury. Sullivan also said it was “unfortunate”.
Now, it is not set in stone that he won’t make the team, but the lack of playing will make it hard for him to have a chance. Pysyk did miss all of the 2022-23 season due to an Achilles injury. It is unknown if the two injuries have any relation.
If Pysyk doesn’t make the team, the Pens have several options to take his spot, such as Chad Ruhwedel, Mark Friedman, and Ty Smith.
If Pysyk doesn’t make the team, then I hope another team takes a chance on him if he can play this season. He was skilled enough and talented enough to not go unsigned.
