Penguins claim Kolyachonok; Kings’ Englund, Kraken’s Stephens on waivers

The Pittsburgh Penguins claimed defenseman Vladislav Koylachonok off waivers from the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday.

Through 23 appearances with Utah this season, the 23-year-old Belarusian-born blue-liner has notched two goals and three assists for five points alongside two penalty minutes and a minus-seven rating. In all, Kolyachonok has spent part of four seasons at the NHL level with Utah and the former Arizona Coyotes, totaling four goals and eight assists for 12 points through 62 appearances. Originally chosen 52nd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kolyachonok was dealt to the Coyotes in the 2021 offseason. Per PuckPedia, Koylachonok is in the first year of a two-year, one-way pact that carries a $775,000 annual average value.

Elsewhere Sunday, the Los Angeles Kings placed defenseman Andreas Englund on waivers. Through 11 appearances with Los Angeles this season, the 29-year-old Swedish-born rearguard has notched one goal with 12 penalty minutes and a minus-one mark. In all, Englund has seen 173 career contests counting stops with the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, and Kings in which he has tallied two goals and 16 assists for 18 points. Englund was originally chosen 40th overall by the Senators in the 2014 NHL Draft.

Additionally, Sunday also saw the Seattle Kraken waive center Mitchell Stephens. The 28-year-old native of Peterborough, Ont., has split time this season between the Kraken and the club’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. With the Kraken, Stephens has posted one goal and two assists for three points through 25 outings, while with the Firebirds he has notched eight points counting four goals and four assists in 18 contests. A 2015 third-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stephens has seen 120 total appearances with the Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Kraken in which he has scored six goals and added 13 assists for 19 points.