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Former Penguins AHL Standout Earns Top Line With Blackhawks

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Penguins
By Nick Horwat | Last updated 1/9/24

PITTSBURGH – When the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Erik Karlsson in a three-team deal over the summer, they also managed to add forward Rem Pitlick from the Montreal Canadiens. At the time, Pitlick seemed like he could be a useful depth option for the Penguins, but his price tag got in the way.

Making an NHL salary of $1.1 million, Pitlick started the 2023-24 season in the American Hockey League with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and likely stuck there thanks to his cap hit. The Penguins needed depth forward help early on with certain injuries piling up, but not enough cap space to bring him to the NHL level.

Pitlick went on to lead the WBS Penguins in points before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. The trade announcement was made at about the same time Connor Bedard and Nick Foligno were placed on injured reserve. With those two down with injuries the Blackhawks had eight forwards on the shelf and needed the extra help.

Not only is Pitlick part of the roster help, but he’s reportedly lining up on the Blackhawks first line.

Blackhawks lines in morning skate vs. Oilers have Mrazek starting, Raddysh and Anderson back, Pitlick here:

Pitlick-Kurashev-Raddysh
Blackwell-Dickinson-Anderson
Reichel-Entwistle-Guttman
Katchouk-Sanford-Donato

Tinordi-Murphy
Vlasic-Megna
Korchinski-Zaitsev

Mrazek pic.twitter.com/mDrmNPfrC6
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 9, 2024

Shortly after arriving in Chicago, Pitlick lined up alongside Philipp Kurashev and Taylor Raddysh during the Blackhawks morning skate ahead of their contest against the Edmonton Oilers. Not only is Pitlick jumping from the AHL straight to an NHL first line but will likely play a lot of time against Connor McDavid.

Pitlick said he is ready and excited for his opportunity in back in the NHL after spending 32 games with the WBS Penguins. He scored eight goals and 16 assists for 24 total points in that time; six of his goals came on the power play.

The Blackhawks are a rebuilding team and didn’t have high expectations heading into the season, but losing eight names including some of their best forwards and the NHL’s top rookie in Bedard doesn’t make the season any easier.

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Penguins and was syndicated with permission.

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