What Impressed Mike Sullivan About Penguins Prospect’s Debut

The Penguins got to see a defenseman prospect play his first game for Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Vladislav Kolyachonok logged 11:34 of ice time in Pittsburgh’s loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. The Penguins claimed the 23-year-old off waivers from the Utah Hockey Club last month, but Tuesday was the first time he donned a Pens sweater.

“I thought Vladdy was good. His mobility was excellent,” head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters of Kolyachonok, per Dan Potash of SportsNet Pittsburgh. “It was hard to get a read on his overall game because we haven’t had too many practices and the ones we’ve had have been free skates more than anything. It was nice to see him in a game. I thought he was getting back to pucks. I thought he made some really nice plays with the puck. He defended well with his stick, but his mobility was the thing that jumped out at me the most.”

Kolyachonok played four NHL seasons before his Penguins debut. He scored two goals and recorded five assists for seven points in 39 games. The 2019 second-round pick will look to show Sullivan and the coaching staff more of what he can do in the closing stretch of Pittsburgh’s season.