PRESS RELEASE
Penguins Recall Defenseman Juuso Riikola to the Taxi Squad
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Juuso Riikola to the taxi squad, it was announced today by general manager Ron Hextall.
Riikola, 27, has split the 2021-22 season between Pittsburgh and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. With Pittsburgh, Riikola has recorded one assist and is plus-2 in five games this season. The defenseman has tallied 12 points (1G-11A) in 17 games with WBS, which ranks second among all team defensemen.
The 6-foot, 189-pound blueliner played in two games for the Penguins during the 2020-21 campaign and practiced with the team's taxi squad for the majority of the year. The Joensuu, Finland native has dressed for 80 career NHL games, scoring three goals, 10 assists and 13 points with a plus-8. In 22 career AHL games split between the 2018-19 and '21-22 seasons, Riikola has tallied one goal, 13 assists and 14 points.
The Penguins conclude their six-game homestand tonight against the Washington Capitals at 7:00 PM at PPG Paints Arena before heading into the All-Star Break.
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