The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed forward Jami Krannila and goaltender Joel Blomqvist for amateur tryouts, the club announced Tuesday.
Krannila, 22, recently wrapped up a successful four-year college career with the St. Cloud State Huskies. The five-foot-ten center, who shoots on the left, had 21 goals and 40 points in 41 games as a senior with the Huskies during the 2022-23 season. Krannila was not drafted into the NHL.
Blomqvist, 21, was a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins (52nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. The six-foot-two goalkeeper excelled in the Liiga with Karpat in 2021-22, but faltered last season, dropping from a 0.940 save percentage to 0.907 (and was edged out by U.S. hopefuls). Ottawa Senators Leevi Merilainen).
The Penguins have until June 1, 2024 to agree terms with Blomqvist on an entry-level contract before his exclusive signing rights expire. Krannila is currently eligible to sign a CEL with any NHL club.
The WBS Penguins are all but guaranteed to miss qualifying for the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. They currently rank eighth (and last) in the Atlantic Division in 66 games with a 25–28–13 record. With 63 points, the Penguins are 10 behind the Hartford Wolf Pack for sixth and final playoff spot in the division.
Blomqvist previously made his AHL debut with the WBS Penguins in the 2021-22 season, stopping 25 of 27 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds on April 23, 2022.
It remains to be seen whether Krannila or Blomqvist will be in the lineup when the WBS Penguins return Wednesday night to face the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at 7:05 p.m. ET.
