This is part of a 30-part series taking a look at the seasons of players who spent significant time on the Penguins' NHL roster this season, presented in numerical order.
FILIP HALLANDER Position: Wing/center Age: 25 NHL stats: 1 goal, 3 assists, 13 games Contract status: Signed through 2026-27, $850,000 cap hit (waivers-eligible)
Filip Hallander finally got his first real NHL opportunity this season.
Then, nearly as quickly, it was over.
Hallander spent years working his way back into the NHL and the Penguins' organization after a stint in Sweden. He earned a roster spot out of training camp, got into the lineup and showed real promise on Sidney Crosby's wing on the top line.
But that look ended before the Penguins could learn much from it.
After appearing in just 13 NHL games, Hallander was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg in November and was sidelined for a minimum of three months. While he eventually returned to action in a conditioning stint in Wilkes-Barre, he never got back into the Penguins' lineup before the end of the season, with Kyle Dubas citing an abundance of caution for the reason for his continued absence.
Hallander was back in Sweden shortly after the conclusion of the Penguins' season, already training for next season.
The production, really, wasn't there in the limited NHL sample, at least for a top-six role. He didn't have much of a runway to find that production, though. The question becomes whether he showed enough in the limited time he did get, aside from that production.
The Penguins dressed 20 different forwards who played at least 10 games over the course of the season. At five-on-five, Hallander averaged the third-most shots on goal, at 8.27 per 60 minutes, trailing only Avery Hayes and Egor Chinakhov. Hallander also finished with the third-most shot attempts behind Hayes and Chinakhov, and third-most unblocked shot attempts behind the same two. His rate of 13 scoring chances per 60 minutes led all 20 forwards, as did his rate of 8.66 high-danger shot attempts.
He just didn't play long enough for that dam to break open. Had he stayed healthy, and those chances started going in, he could have solidified his spot in the top-six.
It's unclear if Hallander is going to even be able to play to start next season. He's back home and training, but still has to be evaluated at some point over this summer to answer those questions. If he's healthy, he faces a tough road earning that spot again next season, with a wave of young forwards in that mix too.
He earned a roster spot once, he could surely earn a roster spot again. Regardless, his health is the most important thing here.
THE ASYLUM
Season review: Hallander showed promise
This is part of a 30-part series taking a look at the seasons of players who spent significant time on the Penguins' NHL roster this season, presented in numerical order.
FILIP HALLANDER
Position: Wing/center
Age: 25
NHL stats: 1 goal, 3 assists, 13 games
Contract status: Signed through 2026-27, $850,000 cap hit (waivers-eligible)
Filip Hallander finally got his first real NHL opportunity this season.
Then, nearly as quickly, it was over.
Hallander spent years working his way back into the NHL and the Penguins' organization after a stint in Sweden. He earned a roster spot out of training camp, got into the lineup and showed real promise on Sidney Crosby's wing on the top line.
But that look ended before the Penguins could learn much from it.
After appearing in just 13 NHL games, Hallander was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg in November and was sidelined for a minimum of three months. While he eventually returned to action in a conditioning stint in Wilkes-Barre, he never got back into the Penguins' lineup before the end of the season, with Kyle Dubas citing an abundance of caution for the reason for his continued absence.
Hallander was back in Sweden shortly after the conclusion of the Penguins' season, already training for next season.
The production, really, wasn't there in the limited NHL sample, at least for a top-six role. He didn't have much of a runway to find that production, though. The question becomes whether he showed enough in the limited time he did get, aside from that production.
The Penguins dressed 20 different forwards who played at least 10 games over the course of the season. At five-on-five, Hallander averaged the third-most shots on goal, at 8.27 per 60 minutes, trailing only Avery Hayes and Egor Chinakhov. Hallander also finished with the third-most shot attempts behind Hayes and Chinakhov, and third-most unblocked shot attempts behind the same two. His rate of 13 scoring chances per 60 minutes led all 20 forwards, as did his rate of 8.66 high-danger shot attempts.
He just didn't play long enough for that dam to break open. Had he stayed healthy, and those chances started going in, he could have solidified his spot in the top-six.
It's unclear if Hallander is going to even be able to play to start next season. He's back home and training, but still has to be evaluated at some point over this summer to answer those questions. If he's healthy, he faces a tough road earning that spot again next season, with a wave of young forwards in that mix too.
He earned a roster spot once, he could surely earn a roster spot again. Regardless, his health is the most important thing here.
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