Andonovski's Adjustment To AHL A Smooth Transition

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - While he was only with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for two weeks late last season, Corey Andonovski got his first taste of the American Hockey League (AHL) last spring when he joined the AHL Penguins down the stretch - appearing in five games before heading back to Princeton University to finish his schooling.

It doesn't seem like much on the surface, but it could be a big part of why Andonovski is off to a solid start to his rookie season with the Penguins so far this fall.

"Even getting those two weeks and five games that I got made a difference coming into this year," Andonovski told InsideAHLHockey.com after a recent win in Hershey on October 29. "I kind of just felt comfortable around some of the guys, felt comfortable [with] the coaching staff; they kind of see me and know what I'm all about. So coming into this year, it definitely helps."

In primarily a bottom-six role up until this past weekend, Andonovski has made the most of his opportunities - getting in on the forecheck and being disruptive but also having the ability to create offense off of those potential turnovers to be.

He's a really strong kid," Penguins head coach JD Forrest said of Andonovski, adding, "I think he's starting to understand that he has an asset with his speed combined with his strength. And he's getting engaged more."

For Andonovski, he's just looking to make a positive impact whenever he's on the ice.

"I think anytime you can inject some energy into your lineup, whether it's top six, bottom six, wherever it is, it obviously contributes," the first year forward explained. "And for me, I'm just happy to do that contribute any way I can, even if it's a defensive play, a big check, a goal or whatever it may be."

A recent three-game stretch against rival Hershey really allowed Andonovski to put his skillset to the test, as his agitating and hard-nosed style paid dividends not only offensively but also defensively in his play along the walls and and in the dirty areas of the ice.

"It kind of feeds into my game a little bit," Andonovski said of playing rival teams like Hershey and the intensity ramping up. "I love that. I don't try to hit anybody dirty. But, you know, whenever there's a good clean check I can lay I definitely try to do that."

Andonovski's agitating style was on full-display over the weekend, as he drew the ire of both opponents on the two-game homestand.

Friday night against Hartford, he raced for a loose puck and made contact with goaltender Louis Domingue along the wall by the top of the right-wing circle. The result was Andonovski being forced into a fight with a much bigger 6-foot-8 challenger in Wolf Pack forward Matt Rempe.

On Saturday, his was regularly engaged in post-whistle scrums as a player who goes hard to the net at both ends of the rink normally does. He did let his frustration get the best of him late in the third period, as after a penalty realistically halted the Penguins' chances of a comeback he touched the puck up for the delayed penalty with a full windmill slapshot into Springfield's empty net, which drew a crowd and resulted in a 10-minute misconduct and early exit for Andonovski.

"He plays a pretty hard-style game. He finishes through guys," Forrest told media present for Friday night's Zoom post-game press conference. "He certainly is rough with others a little bit with the other team, and when you play that style it's going to happen. But he's had a pretty solid start to this season."

This weekend, Andonovski saw himself on the top line on Friday night. Perhaps a bit of a reward after a five points in five games stretch to end the month of October, but also a stylistic fit in the lineup according to Forrest.

"We just wanted someone on that line that would compliment [O'Connor's] tenacity and maybe get some more pucks and get it on the net a little bit. They generated some opportunities [Friday]," the Penguins' bench boss said. "I thought [Andonovski] played a fine game."

Although he didn't kill penalties in college, Forrest has Andonovski in a regular role on a PK unit with forward Tyler Sikura. Sikura had been the center and Andonovski's go-to guy for insights and advice on the ice.

"I mean, he's super smart as a player; talks a lot," Andonovski said of Sikura. "And like you said, he the center on of my line, too, so I kind of have some comfort there. And we chat all the time, whether it's five on five, or PK, we're always talking about what we can do better, or what we need to do better. So there's definitely a certain comfort level there."

Andonovski takes pride in his role as an energy player that is also entrusted with playing against the opposing team's top offensive players.

"I think the PK is such a huge role, especially in this league - there's a lot of good powerplays - so kind of going out there and doing a job when you're down a man is really important," Andonovski told InsideAHLHockey.com. "It's huge for momentum and energy for the team too. So to be trusted, that obviously is a good feeling. But every time you go out there, you kind of know you have a job to do and, and it's a responsibility. So just happy I'm doing a good job and hope to keep it going through the rest of the year."

While he hasn't been on the scoresheet during the Penguins' current four-game losing skid, Andonovski continues to make a positive impact on the penalty kill and on the forecheck to create scoring opportunities.

"We like his start [to the season]," Forrest said of Andonovski's rookie campaign through the opening weeks. "I think he's got a really good set of tools. And hopefully he just keeps continuing in his development."