Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: NHL rights remain with club
Rotowire
Ponomarev was given a qualifying offer from Pittsburgh on Monday.
An initial report indicated that Ponomarev was not going to be retained by the Penguins but it seems like that plan changed. The 23-year-old center is signed with KHL club Avangard Omsk for the next three seasons, so even if he does return to the NHL, it won't be any time soon.
... See More... See Less
Vasily Ponomarev: Won't receive qualifying offer
Rotowire
Ponomarev will not be given a qualifying offer from the Penguins, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports Monday.
Ponomarev already agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk (KHL), so he wasn't going to be playing for the franchise any time soon. It seems the Pens won't bother trying to retain his NHL rights that long, so if Ponomarev decides to return in the future, he will be able to sign with any NHL club.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Inks three-year deal with KHL club
Rotowire
Ponomarev signed a three-year contract with the KHL's Avangard Omsk on Wednesday, per Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports.
Ponomarev had 15 goals, 41 points and 44 PIM across 55 regular-season appearances with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as well as no points, two PIM and five hits in seven outings with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, so the Penguins can retain the 23-year-old's NHL rights by presenting him with a qualifying offer.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Ponomarev spent the last week of the regular season with Pittsburgh, and he was held without a point while generating four hits and a blocked shot over three appearances during his stint with the NHL club. He should have more opportunities to contribute in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Back in bigs
Rotowire
Ponomarev was called up from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an emergency basis Thursday.
Ponomarev has 15 goals and 25 assists in 40 AHL contests, including two goals and three assists in his last five games. He has seen limited action at the NHL level, playing four games this season with no points, while averaging 9:13 of ice time.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Sent back down
Rotowire
Ponomarev was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
Ponomarev filled the third-line center role Saturday in a 3-2 loss to the Flyers, but he didn't get on the scoresheet. The 22-year-old will resume playing regularly for the farm team, and he may not come back up after the 4 Nations Face-Off if the Penguins are healthier at forward in two weeks.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Up from minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev was summoned from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
Ponomarev has 11 goals and 27 points in 31 AHL outings this season. He's also appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, recording no points, four shots, one hit and one block. Ponomarev might draw into the lineup Saturday due to the absence of Bryan Rust (lower body), who moved to injured reserve in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Heads to minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.
Ponomarev has no points, four shots, one hit and one block in three appearances with Pittsburgh in 2024-25. He also has an assist in five outings with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Pittsburgh activated Kevin Hayes (upper body) from injured reserve in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Recalled by Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Ponomarev was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Ponomarev was sent to the minors at the end of October after being taken off the injured non-roster list, but he'll rejoin the Penguins to provide additional depth as the team deals with multiple injuries. He made two NHL appearances for Carolina last year and tallied a goal and an assist while averaging 9:41 of ice time.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Headed for minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev (upper body) was taken off the injured non-roster list and reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.
Ponomarev was a long shot to make Pittsburgh's Opening Night roster, but a preseason injury all but guaranteed he would start the year in the minors. Still, the 22-year-old Russian has shown some offensive upside in the AHL and should be on the shortlist of potential call-ups throughout 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Starting season on shelf
Rotowire
Ponomarev (upper body) was placed on season-opening injured reserve Monday.
Ponomarev will almsot certainly be reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton once he is cleared to return to action. The 22-year-old Russian played in two NHL games last year for the Hurricanes, tallying one goal and one assist while averaging 9:41 of ice time. While he could earn a call-up from time to time, Ponomarev should see the bulk of his time in the minors this year.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Slated to miss Friday's game
Rotowire
Ponomarev (upper body) is expected to miss Friday's preseason game against Columbus, the team announced Thursday.
Friday's clash is Pittsburgh's final scheduled exhibition contest before the start of the regular season. When Ponomarev is healthy, he will probably be sent to the minors. He had nine goals and 30 points across 45 regular-season contests between AHL Tucson, Chicago and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2023-24.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Unlikely to suit up Thursday
Rotowire
Ponomarev (upper body) isn't expected to play Thursday against Columbus.
Ponomarev is considered day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, and he'll be unable to suit up in the penultimate game of the preseason. He's had a strong camp, but his injury could hinder his case for a spot on the Opening Night roster. His final chance to play during the preseason will be in a rematch against the Blue Jackets on Friday.
Ponomarev is regarded as day-to-day due to his upper-body injury, per Rob Rossi of The Athletic on Wednesday.
Ponomarev had nine goals and 30 points in 45 regular-season AHL appearances between Tucson, Chicago and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2023-24. He also appeared in two regular-season games with Carolina, contributing a goal and an assist. Ponomarev has been in the mix to make Pittsburgh's Opening Night roster, though this injury might complicate that.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Dealing with upper-body injury
Rotowire
Ponomarev is being evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered in Tuesday's preseason game versus the Red Wings.
Ponomarev has had a strong preseason, but this injury could hinder his chances of making the Opening Night roster. The 22-year-old exited the game in the second period after a hard collision with the boards. He is day-to-day ahead of Thursday's preseason game in Columbus.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Vasily Ponomarev: Dealt to Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Ponomarev, Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, a conditional 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick were traded to the Penguins from the Hurricanes on Thursday in exchange for Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports.
Ponomarev is likely the most NHL ready of the three prospects heading to the Penguins. He has two points in two games with the Hurricanes this season, and he's added 29 points over 41 contests between AHL Tucson and AHL Chicago. Ponomarev is more of a defense-first center with some sneaky playmaking -- he's unlikely to see anything more than third-line duties as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Lars Eller are all on the Penguins' roster.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
Ponomarev was loaned to AHL Chicago on Sunday.
Ponomarev notched one goal and one assist during his NHL debut Friday in a 6-2 win over Washington. He was held off the scoresheet in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to St. Louis. Ponomarev has racked up six goals and 20 points in 22 AHL contests this campaign.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Two points in NHL debut
Rotowire
Ponomarev produced a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-2 win over the Capitals.
Called up from AHL Chicago earlier in the day to cover for the absences of Martin Necas (upper body), Jesper Fast (upper body) and Stefan Noesen (illness), Ponomarev made an instant impact in his NHL debut. The 2020 second-round pick helped set up Seth Jarvis for a tally early in the third period that tied the game at 2-2, and Ponomarev then potted Carolina's final goal of the night on a nifty one-timer from his knee. The 21-year-old has six goals and 20 points in 20 AHL games after missing the beginning of the season due to a knee injury. There likely isn't room for Ponomarev to stick around when the Hurricanes' forward ranks are at full strength, but he appears to be ready to take the next step in his career.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Recalled Friday
Rotowire
Ponomarev was summoned from AHL Chicago on Friday.
Ponomarev has six goals and 20 points in 22 AHL contests between Tucson and Chicago this season. The 21-year-old might make his NHL debut Friday versus Washington if Stefan Noesen (illness) or Martin Necas (undisclosed) is unable to play.
... See More... See Less
Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Headed to AHL
Rotowire
Ponomarev (knee) was reassigned to AHL Tucson on Thursday, according to Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal.
Ponomarev was injured early in training camp and has been on injured reserve ever since, but his assignment to the minors suggests he's now healthy. Ponomarev has yet to see any NHL action but the 21-year-old had 24 goals and 46 points in 64 games with AHL Chicago last season. He is expected to get plenty of playing time with Tucson and could be recalled if the Hurricanes run into injury problems.
0:28
0:43
0:22
0:41
0:25
