Penguins Activate And Reassign Melvin Fernstrom

After missing training camp due to injury, Penguins prospect Melvin Fernstrom has been cleared to return.  The team announced (Twitter link) that they have activated him from injured/non-roster status and have assigned him to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The 20-year-old had a tale of two seasons in 2025-26.  Fernstrom didn’t see much action at home with SHL Orebro, notching just four points in 36 games.  However, he joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton down the stretch and was much more productive, tallying two goals and six assists in just 14 games, an impressive showing for his first taste of playing in North America.  Unfortunately for him, Fernstrom suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season prematurely; recovering from the surgery is what cost him a shot to showcase himself in training camp.

Originally drafted by Vancouver in the third round in 2024, Fernstrom was acquired less than a year later by Pittsburgh as part of the Marcus Pettersson trade.  He signed his entry-level contract last June with the first season sliding since he didn’t see any NHL action.  Accordingly, this is year one of that three-year deal.

Since Fernstrom didn’t spend any days on an NHL roster last season, he wasn’t counting against Pittsburgh’s books while on the injured list.  He’ll now return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the hopes of earning his first recall at some point this season.