Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Penguins resumed practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex after a nine-day break. Assistant coach Mike Vellucci led the session while head coach Mike Sullivan and assistant coach David Quinn were with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, recently acquired from the Utah Hockey Club, joined the practice for the first time. "I was super excited to find out Pittsburgh picked me up," said Kolyachonok, who described himself as a "two-way defenseman." Originally drafted by Florida in 2019, he has experience in both the NHL and AHL.

Vellucci noted Kolyachonok's smooth skating, stating, "He's a good defender, so I think that's going to play into our scheme."

Evgeni Malkin returned to full practice after missing six games due to a lower-body injury. Bryan Rust also returned after being sidelined for Pittsburgh’s last game before the break. Vellucci commented on their return: "They're two of our better players, obviously. So, it's great to have them back."

Boko Imama remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell are expected back from international duty later this week.

The Penguins will face Washington on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday.