Penguins Recall Mark Friedman, Drew O'Connor from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Drew O'Connor from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, it was announced today by general manager Ron Hextall.
Defenseman Jeff Petry has been placed on long-term injured reserve, retroactive to December 11.

Friedman, 26, attended Pittsburgh's 2022 training camp and played in two preseason games with the Penguins. This season with WBS, Friedman has recorded one goal, four assists and is plus-5 in 19 AHL games. He has been plus or even in 16 of his 19 games this year.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenseman has played parts of three seasons in the Penguins' organization. Last season, Friedman played a career-high 26 games, scoring one goal, four assists and five points. The defenseman also appeared in six games with the Penguins during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tallying one goal.
The Toronto, ON native has played in 42 career NHL games, split between the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, recording three goals, six assists and nine points. He has also skated in 207 career AHL games with the WBS Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, registering 11 goals, 55 assists and 66 points, and scored two goals in 12 AHL playoff games with Lehigh Valley.
Friedman was originally drafted in the third round (86th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins acquired the defenseman on February 24, 2021 when they claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia and extended his contract through the 2023-24 campaign on March 20, 2022.
O'Connor, 24, has appeared in three games with Pittsburgh this season. With WBS, O'Connor has recorded a team-high 14 assists and 22 points (8G-14A) in 20 AHL games. He's accumulated nine points (3G-6A) over WBS' last two games.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward has played parts of two seasons with Pittsburgh, appearing in 35 career NHL games and accumulating six points (3G-3A). O'Connor also appeared in two playoff games with the Penguins during the 2021-22 season. In 73 career AHL games with WBS, O'Connor has recorded 27 goals, 46 assists and 73 points.
O'Connor originally signed with the Penguins as an undrafted free agent on March 10, 2020 and re-signed to a one-year contract extension on March 12, 2022.
The Penguins return to action on Thursday as they head south to take on the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.