The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned forward Emil Bemstrom to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) Saturday morning.

That transaction has yet to be announced by the team but it was reflected on the transaction page of the AHL’s website.

If the Penguins are to formally activate forwards Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust from injured reserve — as is expected in advance of Saturday’s home game against the Washington Capitals — they need to create space on the active NHL roster.

On Wednesday, Malkin and Rust each said they expected to play in Saturday’s game.

An additional transaction, such as placing hobbled forward Boko Imama on injured reserve, could also happen. Imama is currently labeled as “day to day” due to an undisclosed ailment.

Bemstrom has been recalled to the NHL roster on two occasions this season, most recently on Tuesday. In two NHL contests, he has no points and has averaged 12:14 of ice time per contest while primarily inhabiting a role on the left wing of the third line.

An All-Star at the AHL level, Bemstrom has skated in 41 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and is that team’s leading scorer with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists).

He is signed to a one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000, the league minimum.

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