Penguins Waive Aho; More Decisions Loom

The Pittsburgh Penguins trimmed their roster by two Sunday, waiving defenseman Sebastian Aho and minor league tough guy Boko Imama.

Imama wasn’t expected to make the NHL roster, but Aho was in full competition for an NHL spot on the Penguins blue line.

However, the Penguins are still over the 23-player limit, and more decisions are pending.

Two potential transactions could trim the roster, putting goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and forward Blake Lizotte on long-term injured reserve. Lizotte has a concussion after being hit by an errant puck while sitting on the Penguins bench during their preseason game against the Ottawa Senators in the Kraft Hockeyville celebration one week ago. Nedeljkovic is listed as out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Matt Nieto is expected to be placed on LTIR. The Penguins are currently at 26 players, including 16 forwards.

Last Monday, Nedeljkovic left the preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period and appeared to grab his midsection in pain.

The Penguins could demote prospect Rutger McGroarty to the WBS Penguins without delay. If Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas were to send Valtteri Puustinen, Cody Glass, or Jesse Puljujarvi in order to get to the 23-man roster, they would have been placed on waivers today so they could have cleared before the NHL’s Monday 5 p.m. roster deadline.