Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has confirmed that Jansen Harkins underwent hand surgery on Friday morning following an injury sustained in a fight during Thursday night’s game against the Washington Capitals. As a result, Harkins, aged 26, will be sidelined for an extended period and has been placed on the Injured Reserve (IR) list.
Harkins, who recently joined the Penguins, has played 43 games with the team this season, contributing four assists. Additionally, he has showcased his skills with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying four goals and five assists in 11 games.
Originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Harkins has previously played for the Jets, amassing 27 points over 154 games from 2019 to 2023.
Currently in the second year of a two-year contract worth $850,000 annually, Harkins is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Penguins, with a record of 28-25-8 and 64 points, currently rank seventh in the Metropolitan Division and are eight points behind a Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. Their upcoming matches include a game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday followed by a home game against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.