Novak has four goals, 11 points, 39 SOG and four PIMs across 20 games played this season and has signed a one-year extension worth $800,000. The 25-year-old has been enjoying a solid second NHL season and will be happy to sign after only 47 career games.
Jarry was on the ice for Tuesday's optional morning skate and is getting closer to returning to the Penguins crease. Casey DeSmith will start vs. the Avalanche, and Dustin Tokarski is expected to back up with Jarry still sidelined. Jarry was placed on the IR but can be activated at any time.
Novak was returned to Milwaukee (AHL) during the NHL All-Star break so that he could continue to see game action and continued to produce, adding to his 11 goals, 15 points and a +9 plus/minus in 25 games with the Admirals (AHL). He heads back to Nashville, where he was having a great start to his sophmore campaign, with four goals, 11 points and a +2 plus/minus through his first 19 games this season.
Bemstrom was a healthy scratch for the Blue Jackets' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Friday as a replacement for the injured Gustav Nyquist (upper body). The 23-year-old has four goals, seven assists, 35 SOG, and a -4 plus/minus through 21 games played this year.
Nieto was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday in a deal involving Jacob MacDonald, and Martin Kaut going the other way and will be making his Avalanche debut Thursday. He had eight goals, seven assists, 70 SOG, and a -22 plus/minus in 45 games with the Sharks before the deal.
Nieto was dealt alongside Ryan Merkley in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche that saw Jacob MacDonald and Martin Kaut go the other way.
Bemstrom sat for the third period of Monday's loss in Calgary, playing just 6:18 TOI. He'll be replaced by Liam Foudy in the Blue Jackets' bottom-6 on Wednesday.
Jarry is 16-5-5 with a 2.65 GAA and .921 SV% but is considered day-to-day as he deals with an upper-body injury. It is the second injury within a month for the Penguins' starter. Dustin Tokarski was recalled in a corresponding move Wednesday to cover for Jarry in his absence.
Letang has not played since December 28th but was a full participant in Tuesday's morning skate and will be a game-time decision vs. the Panthers. Letang skated on the top-pair with Brian Dumoulin and on the second power-play unit in the morning skate and was activated off the injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.
Letang has not played since December 28th but was a full participant in Tuesday's morning skate and will be a game-time decision vs. the Panthers. Letang skated on the top-pair with Brian Dumoulin and on the second power-play unit in the morning skate.
Jarry stopped 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) for his fourth loss in his passed five full starts as he was beat in overtime by New Jersey last game. The 27-year-old has been sensational for a second straight season for the Penguins, with his 16-5-5 record, 2.65 GAA and .921 SV%. He faces the Florida Panthers, who lost their previous game Monday 6-2 to the New York Rangers, and is third in the NHL in shots per game (35.3).
Jarry last played on January 2nd and was pulled after stopping all eight of eight shots due to a lower-body injury. The Penguins will be very happy to have their starting netminder back, as he is 15-5-4 on the season, with his 2.75 GAA and .918 SV%. He will take on the Ottawa Senators, who won their last game 5-4 in overtime vs. Pittsburgh but are sixth in the NHL in shots per game (33.5).
Jarry has been sidelined since the Winter Classic, but he appears set to return to the Penguins' crease on Friday. Jarry has gone 15-5-4 with a 2.75 GAA and .918 SV% in 25 games this season.
Letang is eligible to be activated from LTIR whenever he is back to 100 percent but it gives the Penguins the salary room to activate Jeff Petry and Tristan Jarry from IR and keep Mark Friedman, Jonathan Gruden, and Drew O'Connor on the roster.
