Pittsburgh sent veteran winger Kevin Porter to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, a move that pretty much ensures Eric Fehr will make his regular season debut -- and Penguins debut -- on Saturday in Toronto.
Fehr, who signed a three-year, $6 million deal with the Pens this summer, has been on injured reserve after undergoing offseason elbow surgery. He was hoping to return Wednesday to face his former Caps team, but was ineligible to come off IR in time for the contest.
The 30-year-old has been skating with Pittsburgh for nearly two weeks.
It’ll be interesting to see where head coach Mike Johnston utilizes Fehr. Pittsburgh’s top two lines look set -- Sidney Crosby-Pascal Dupuis-Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin-Phil Kessel-David Perron -- but Fehr’s ability to play both center and wing could see him in a variety of roles to start.
Regardless of where he plays, Fehr will be a solid addition to a Pittsburgh team that’s won three straight, and “exploded” for four goals in a victory over Buffalo on Thursday.