CRANBERRY -- The trades for Erik Gudbranson and Chris Wideman weren't the only roster moves the Penguins made on Monday.
The Penguins recalled defenseman Zach Trotman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to play in Columbus on Tuesday, Jim Rutherford announced following the trade deadline.
Brian Dumoulin was diagnosed with a concussion and Kris Letang is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. They will not make the trip to Columbus.
Trotman, 28, is in his second season in the Penguins organization, and previously earned a three-game call up to Pittsburgh last season. He's appeared in just 24 games for Wilkes-Barre this season due to an early-season injury, and has recorded one goal, four assists, and a minus-2 rating.
Trotman is a 6-feet-3, 216-pound physical blueliner, and a right-handed shot.
While Ethan Prow is also a right-handed shot and the more skilled defenseman, he's never played in the NHL and does not play a physical game. Trotman's style and 70 games of NHL experience over his seven professional seasons was the difference in this decision.
The recall did not happen sooner because Trotman had to officially be on the AHL roster at 3 p.m. in order to be eligible to play in Wilkes-Barre again this season.
Prior to the 3 p.m. deadline, Teddy Blueger was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre, so he'll be eligible for the remainder of the AHL regular season and postseason, if needed. This wasn't just a move on paper, though. He's actually on his way to Wilkes-Barre.
New acquisition Chris Wideman was on Wilkes-Barre's roster as of the 3 p.m. deadline, because he had already been playing in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds prior to the trade. He will report to Wilkes-Barre and be eligible to play there for the regular season and playoffs.
Juuso Riikola was the only player assigned to Wilkes-Barre prior to the deadline and immediately recalled in a pure paper transaction. He is eligible to play in Wilkes-Barre for the remainder of the season if needed.
No other player on the Penguins' roster was re-assigned, on paper or otherwise, to Wilkes-Barre prior to the 3 p.m. deadline. If the Penguins wished to make Garrett Wilson eligible to be sent back to Wilkes-Barre this season, he would have been required to be placed on waivers at noon on Sunday. He was not. He and every other player currently on the roster will be sticking around in the NHL for the remainder of the season.
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