O'Connor set new personal bests in games (79), goals (16) and assists (17) this season while averaging 15:45 of ice time.
It was a career year for O'Connor that was bolstered by the departure of Jake Guentzel. With an opening on the top line, it was O'Connor who found himself playing on Sidney Crosby's left wing. In that spot, the 25-year-old O'Connor registered 12 of his 33 points this year. Unless the Penguins add a top-six winger in free agency, O'Connor should start 2024-25 in a top-six role.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Two-point effort in loss
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O'Connor scored a shorthanded goal on three shots, added an assist, went plus-2 and blocked two shots in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Bruins.
O'Connor scored for a third straight game and earned his first multi-point effort since March 14. The 25-year-old's hard-working style has earned him looks in a top-line role, and he continues to pay off. He's up to 16 goals, 33 points, 158 shots on net, 53 hits, 57 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating through 77 outings overall. O'Connor has found another gear offensively in 2023-24 after earning just 17 points in 78 games across his first three seasons.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Scores goal in win
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O'Connor scored a goal on three shots in an overtime win versus Detroit on Thursday.
O'Connor has goals in back-to-back games -- he's racked up five tallies in his last nine outings. The 25-year-old center has been thriving while playing on Sidney Crosby's line following the departure of Jake Guentzel. On the year, O'Connor has set personal bests in goals (15), assists (16) and shots on net (155).
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Goal in Monday's loss
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O'Connor scored a goal on four shots in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.
O'Connor forced overtime with a goal 13:38 into the third period, swiping a loose puck past Ilya Samsonov to tie the game 2-2. It's the first goal and second point in five games for O'Connor after he scored in his previous three contests. The 25-year-old forward is up to 14 goals and 30 points, both career highs, through 75 games this season. O'Connor should offer some upside down the stretch while playing on Pittsburgh's top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Scores again Thursday
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O'Connor scored a goal on four shots in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
O'Connor has goals in back-to-back games for just the second time this season. Even with the acquisition of Michael Bunting, it's been O'Connor who has found himself playing with Sidney Crosby the most following the departure of Jake Guentzel. The 25-year-old O'Connor has already set new personal bests in goals (12), assists (15), shots (137) and games played (69) this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Returns to lineup
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O'Connor had two shots and two hits in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Senators.
After missing the last three games due to a concussion, O'Connor returned to his regular spot on the wing on the second line being centered by Evgeni Malkin. O'Connor has only six points since the All-Star break and even though he's playing second-line minutes, he is not a player that can be relied upon for consistent production. He did not see any power-play time against Ottawa.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Ready to rock
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O'Connor (concussion) will play Tuesday against Ottawa.
O'Connor will skate on the second line following his three-game absence. He has accounted for nine goals, 21 points and 110 shots on net over 60 games this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Game-time call Tuesday
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O'Connor (concussion) will be a game-time decision versus the Senators on Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
O'Connor took the ice in a second-lone role alongside Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith at the game-day skate, so all signs seem to point to his involvement Tuesday. The 25-year-old New Jersey native is currently mired in a five-game pointless streak during which he's managed just five shots. Despite the recent slump, O'Connor has already set career highs this season in goals (nine), assists (12) and games played (60).
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Still sidelined
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O'Connor (concussion) won't play Sunday versus the Oilers.
O'Connor's will miss a third consecutive game since suffering a concussion in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Columbus. The 25-year-old center has nine goals and 21 points in 60 games this season. Noel Acciari is expected to center Pittsburgh's fourth line in O'Connor's absence.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Won't return Saturday
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O'Connor (concussion) isn't expected to play Saturday versus Boston.
It will be Pittsburgh's second straight game without O'Connor. He has nine goals and 21 points in 60 outings in 2023-24. The 25-year-old will likely serve in a middle-six capacity once he's healthy.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Two points vs. Habs
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O'Connor tallied a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canadiens.
O'Connor set up Kris Letang's tally in the first period before adding a goal of his own in the second, beating Cayden Primeau with a wrister to extend Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1. O'Connor now has goals in back-to-back games and five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five contests following a seven-game point drought. The 25-year-old forward is up to a career-best 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) through 54 games this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Credited with game-winning goal
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O'Connor scored a goal in Monday's 3-0 home victory against the Kraken.
O'Connor opened the scoring at 0:49 of the second period with helpers to Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Since the Kraken didn't score, O'Connor was credited with the first game-winning goal of his career through 120 NHL games. His six goals also mark a new career best for the 25-year-old left wing. He'll look to carry over the momentum into Saturday's road game against the Golden Knights.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Two points in Boston
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O'Connor produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Bruins.
Both points came in a wild first period that saw the two teams combine for six goals, including five by the 7:21 mark. It's the first multi-point performance of the season for O'Connor, and the 25-year-old has already established a new career high on the season with 13 points (five goals, eight helpers) through 37 games.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Scores goal in comeback win
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O'Connor scored a goal on six shots versus Tampa Bay on Thursday.
O'Connor found the back of the net for the first time since Nov. 11 versus Buffalo, a stretch of eight games without a goal. With Rickard Rakell (upper body) on long-term injured reserve, the 25-year-old O'Connor has found himself bumped up to the second line. Playing alongside Evgeni Malkin should bolster O'Connor's fantasy value and offensive production.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Picks up assist
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O'Connor garnered an assist in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Golden Knights.
O'Connor hasn't produced much in the way of offense this season, registering just four points in 17 outings. Still, the 25-year-old has been a mainstay on the Penguins' third line and could set new personal bests this year in games played and points even with his slow production. His high marks in those categories are 46 contests and 11 points, set last season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Assists in loss
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O'Connor garnered a helper in Monday's 4-3 defeat to Anaheim.
O'Connor appears to have cemented himself in the Penguins' lineup, appearing in all nine games to open the season while averaging 12:25 of ice time. The 25-year-old New Jersey native is still looking for his first goal of the campaign and has managed just two assists.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Inks two-year deal
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O'Connor agreed to terms on a two-year. $1.85 million contract with Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
O'Connor logged 46 games for the Pens last season in which he recorded five goals on 62 shots, six assists and 63 hits while averaging 9:49 of ice time. With his new contract in hand, O'Connor should be in contention for regular appearances in the lineup, likely in a bottom-six role, where he should be capable of reaching the 20-point threshold.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Playing versus Columbus
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O'Connor (upper body) will suit up against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Penguins radio play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
O'Connor put together a decent 2022-23 campaign in which he tallied five goals, six assists and 61 shots in 45 games played, all of which are career bests. Looking ahead to next season, the 24-year-old winger will need a new contract but as a restricted free agent should be back with the Pens.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Game-time call
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O'Connor (upper body) is expected to be a game-time decision for Thursday's regular-season finale versus Columbus, Wes Crosby of NHL.com reports.
O'Connor's status versus Columbus may not be determined until Pittsburgh takes the ice for pregame warmups. He's picked up 11 points through 45 games while skating in a bottom-six role this season.
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Penguins' Drew O'Connor: Not expected to play
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O'Connor (upper body) won't play Tuesday against Chicago.
O'Connor will miss his second consecutive contest. He has registered 11 points and 61 shots on goal in 45 appearances this season. Alexander Nylander will be in the lineup instead.
