Penguins activate former second-round pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated forward Jansen Harkins off injured reserve, per a team announcement. Harkins has been out of the lineup for a little over a week, suffering a concussion in the team’s Feb. 10 game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Shortly before the first game of the regular season, Harkins was brought to Pittsburgh from the Jets organization by way of a waiver claim. Similar to his usage in Winnipeg throughout his career, Harkins was thought to be an effective bottom-six player for the Penguins this season.

Harkins, who is now averaging the lowest average ice time of his career this season, has been a bit of a mixed bag in his role for Pittsburgh. In 34 games on the year, he has yet to score a goal up to this point, but his physical play has certainly picked up as he’s achieved a new career-high in hits with 59 already.

On a positive note, with strong defense largely expected in many teams' bottom six, Harkins has certainly delivered for the Penguins in that regard. Through nearly half a season, Harkins has produced a Corsi For Percentage of 48.4 percent and an On-Ice Save Percentage of 93.9 percent, both of which are higher than his career averages.

In the same announcement, Pittsburgh also stated that the team had moved down both Jonathan Gruden and Vinnie Hinostroza to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

With both players serving as organizational depth at the forward position, both have been shuffled back and forth quite regularly this season.

Of the two, Hinostroza has been relied upon much more than Gruden at the NHL level this year, playing in 14 games already compared to Gruden’s five. 

In those 14 contests, Hinostroza has averaged just under 10 minutes of ice time per night, scoring one goal and three points while carrying a -3 rating.