Ponomarev, Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, a conditional 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick were traded to the Penguins from the Hurricanes on Thursday in exchange for Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports.
Ponomarev is likely the most NHL ready of the three prospects heading to the Penguins. He has two points in two games with the Hurricanes this season, and he's added 29 points over 41 contests between AHL Tucson and AHL Chicago. Ponomarev is more of a defense-first center with some sneaky playmaking -- he's unlikely to see anything more than third-line duties as long as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Lars Eller are all on the Penguins' roster.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Sent down to minors
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Ponomarev was loaned to AHL Chicago on Sunday.
Ponomarev notched one goal and one assist during his NHL debut Friday in a 6-2 win over Washington. He was held off the scoresheet in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to St. Louis. Ponomarev has racked up six goals and 20 points in 22 AHL contests this campaign.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Two points in NHL debut
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Ponomarev produced a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-2 win over the Capitals.
Called up from AHL Chicago earlier in the day to cover for the absences of Martin Necas (upper body), Jesper Fast (upper body) and Stefan Noesen (illness), Ponomarev made an instant impact in his NHL debut. The 2020 second-round pick helped set up Seth Jarvis for a tally early in the third period that tied the game at 2-2, and Ponomarev then potted Carolina's final goal of the night on a nifty one-timer from his knee. The 21-year-old has six goals and 20 points in 20 AHL games after missing the beginning of the season due to a knee injury. There likely isn't room for Ponomarev to stick around when the Hurricanes' forward ranks are at full strength, but he appears to be ready to take the next step in his career.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Recalled Friday
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Ponomarev was summoned from AHL Chicago on Friday.
Ponomarev has six goals and 20 points in 22 AHL contests between Tucson and Chicago this season. The 21-year-old might make his NHL debut Friday versus Washington if Stefan Noesen (illness) or Martin Necas (undisclosed) is unable to play.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Headed to AHL
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Ponomarev (knee) was reassigned to AHL Tucson on Thursday, according to Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal.
Ponomarev was injured early in training camp and has been on injured reserve ever since, but his assignment to the minors suggests he's now healthy. Ponomarev has yet to see any NHL action but the 21-year-old had 24 goals and 46 points in 64 games with AHL Chicago last season. He is expected to get plenty of playing time with Tucson and could be recalled if the Hurricanes run into injury problems.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Closing in on return
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Ponomarev (knee) is close to playing, coach Rod Brind'Amour told Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site on Wednesday.
Ponomarev sustained his knee injury in September and began the campaign on the non-roster/injured reserve list as a result. He had 24 goals and 46 points in 64 AHL contests with Chicago last year.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Return not imminent
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Ponomarev (knee) is "still a ways away" from returning according to coach Rob Brind'Amour, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.
Ponomarev likely was a long shot to make the Opening Night roster to begin with but after racking up 46 points in 64 minor-league contests last season, he would at least have been in the mix to be called up at some point during the 2023-24 campaign. Given his long-term injury concerns, Ponomarev will almost certainly be reassigned to AHL Chicago once cleared to play in order to get his legs back under him before potentially making his NHL debut.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Dealing with knee injury
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Ponomarev will miss some time with a knee injury, coach Rod Brind'Amour told Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal on Saturday.
Brind'Amour doesn't believe Ponomarev's knee injury is serious. The 21-year-old forward had 24 goals and 46 points in 64 games with AHL Chicago in 2022-23.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Joins big club
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Ponomarev was recalled from AHL Chicago on Monday, per CapFriendly.
Ponomarev has yet to make his NHL debut, but he tallied 24 goals and 46 points in 64 AHL contests this season. He's likely serving as extra depth on the NHL roster.
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Hurricanes' Vasily Ponomarev: Links up with AHL team
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Ponomarev was assigned to AHL Chicago on Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Ponomarev played in his native Russia throughout the season. A part of the KHL's Spartak Moscow, the forward logged two points in 14 KHL games and 13 points in 21 games with second-division Khimik Voskresensk. The 20-year-old will head to North America, though he figures to need at least some time with the Wolves before getting a look at the NHL level.
