Without Purdy and Aiyuk, pass catching responsibilities will fall heavily on 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall and all-around running back Christian McCaffrey. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk could also get some burn as a fallback option, having shown the capability to catch passes out of the backfield.
Penguins forward Filip Hallander is back and still wants to take a spot
Posted September 21, 2025
Filip Hallander’s pursuit is still the same.
But his perspective has changed with the benefit of experience.
In September of 2021, Hallander, then a 21-year-old forward prospect, boldly proclaimed his intentions leading into training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I’m here to take a spot,” the left-handed winger said. “Just to take a spot.
“If you’re going to be in the main camp, you need to have the mindset of taking a spot.”
Ultimately, Hallander only found a spot in the NHL club’s lineup for three games over two seasons before he left as a restricted free agent in 2023, returning to his homeland to play for Timra of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
After a breakout 2024-25 season, Hallander re-signed with the Penguins this past offseason and is once again eager to take a spot but with an added sense of clarity on that endeavor.
“(In 2021), I said I wanted to take a spot right away,” said Hallander, now 25. “When you haven’t been here, you don’t understand how many good players there are. Everybody here has been a star on their team growing up, leading up to being here in the NHL. It’s really difficult to grab a spot, even if you play for the best team or the worst team. That’s why it’s the best league in the world. It was kind of maybe not knowing how good it was.
“I felt I grew as the two years went by. Now, coming back, I’m a much better player.”
A brief examination of Hallander’s figures with Timra last season would confirm that postulate as he finished the regular season as the SHL’s second-leading scorer with 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) in 51 games as a first-line winger. He even broke a single-season franchise record for scoring that was held by NHL star forward Henrik Zetterberg.
“Found some confidence last year,” Hallander said. “Had a really good coach in (former NHL All-Star forward) Olli Jokinen. … He believed in me and made me believe in myself more, that I was capable of doing more stuff than I thought of myself. Before he came, I maybe said I was one kind of player and that was the only thing I could do. He took that away from me and said, ‘You can be whatever you want. You’ve just got to believe it.’ After that, it kind of freed up something in me.
“Playing a lot, having a lot of leadership (duties), a lot of pressure being home, being one of the star players and needing to produce, that was good for me to have a little bit of pressure like that. Be a leader on the team and just grow on the ice and off the ice. Last year was huge in a lot of different ways.”
The motivation for going home in 2023 wasn’t necessarily rooted in hockey.
“Obviously, it was a tough time for us with (covid-19), coming over here,” Hallander said. “Our first (child) was born right away when we got over. We had a difficult time off the ice. As a family, we wanted to (feel) good again. It was nothing based on hockey. I felt I had a pretty good chance if I stayed (with the Penguins). I didn’t have the feeling off the ice. For me, it’s all about feeling good off the ice if I am going to feel good on the ice.
“That was the only decision to leave here. It was to find some peace.”
Will Hallander Find That Spot He Had Long Desired With The Penguins? In The Early Days Of Training Camp, He Has Found A Really Nice Spot With First-liners Rickard Rakell And Bryan Rust.
It’s Probably Safe To Assume Captain Sidney Crosby Is The Favorite To Open The Season With Rakell And Rust. But It Certainly Speaks Well To Hallander’s Potential That Coaches Are Experimenting With Him In Such A Fashion.
“He Was Always A High-compete Player,” Rust Said. ‘”Worked Really Hard. Made Good Plays. But I Think You Could Tell His Skating Is Up A Notch, His Pace Is Up A Notch And He’s Able To Make Plays At A Higher Rate Of Speed Now, Too. That’s Just Part Of Him Getting Better. Obviously, He’s Worked Really Hard At It.
“Had A Really Good Year Last Year. I Expect Good Things Out Of Him This Year.”
Hallander, Who Re-signed With The Penguins In April, Agreeing To A Two-year Deal With A Salary Cap Hit Of $775,000, Seemingly Always Expected To Rejoin The Club.
“(The Penguins) Never Cut Me Off,” Hallander Said. “We Always Had A Discussion About Coming Back. My Goal Was Always To Come Back. I (Needed) To Find My Stride A Little Bit Back Home. After, Especially The First Year Coming Into The Second Year And (Improved Play), We Had A Good Talk At The Start Of Last Season. Right Away, Felt I Wanted To Come Back.”
As much as the Penguins wanted to reunite with Hallander, they offered him no assurances of a roster spot upon his return.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Obviously, we all feel I have become a better player,” Hallander said. “My chances of taking a spot (are) higher now than it was the last time I was here.
“You’ve got to earn it. For everybody, that’s the way you want it to be. You don’t want it to be handed to you. You want to sacrifice everything to find something here. That’s good.”
Note: Reserve goaltender Taylor Gauthier will be sidelined “longer term” because of an undisclosed injury according to a team spokesperson. The ECHL’s goaltender of the year as a member of the Wheeling Nailers in 2023-24, Gauthier is signed to an American Hockey League contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
49ers’ Jauan Jennings out with multiple injuries vs. Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers' pass catchers take another hit this week. Already missing George Kittle due to a hamstring injury, the 49ers announced that Jauan Jennings will be out for their Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals, per Adam Schefter.
“Sources: 49ers WR Jauan Jennings, listed as questionable for today’s game vs. the Cardinals due to shoulder and ankle injuries, will not play and will be out.”
Jennings has been banged up from the start of the NFL season. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, but he was able to play in Week 2. He was a key reason for their 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints, catching five of his ten targets for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Unfortunately, Jennings also suffered an ankle injury during the win. While he was able to tough it out during the game, Jennings was unable to practice leading up to their game against the Cardinals. It's unsurprising, then, that the wide receiver was listed as out for their divisional matchup.
The 49ers are dealing with a slew of injuries to their offensive core. Quarterback Brock Purdy remains out for the Week 3 game due to turf toe. He's at least in line to return soon, but the same can't be said for Kittle, who was placed on injured reserve this week after suffering a hamstring injury against the Saints. Brandon Aiyuk also remains out for the Niners as he works his way back from his ACL tear last season.
