Brandon Pirri’s latest NHL opportunity arrived Wednesday. His reaction was slightly different than when he got his first call-up from the Blackhawks in October 2010.
“It’s a little different from being a 19-year-old getting called up to the Hawks the first time where it’s just crazy,’’ Pirri said. ‘‘You’re calling everyone, and you want everyone to know. Now when I get called up, I’ve got to tell my wife. I told my son — he’s 11 months old; he doesn’t get it. These are different changes, and they’re all good. It’s good emotions.
“I have an amazing support system, but at the same time, it’s just funny looking back on it.”
The Golden Knights recalled Pirri to replace Max Pacioretty, who was put on injured reserve. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Pirri was in Pacioretty’s spot in the lineup during practice Wednesday, skating on the second line with center Paul Stastny and right wing Alex Tuch.
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Known as an offense-first player, Pirri has produced at a career-best clip for the Wolves this season. He was leading the AHL with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists in 28 games), eight ahead of Wolves winger Daniel Carr. And Pirri had been especially prolific recently, getting seven goals and three assists in his last four games.
Once considered the Hawks’ second-line center of the future, Pirri never earned former coach Joel Quenneville’s trust and was traded to the Panthers in March 2014 after playing only 35 games over parts of four seasons in Chicago. Since then, Pirri, 27, has had his moments in the NHL but has bounced around the league, also playing for the Ducks and Rangers. He spent most of last season with the Wolves and made two appearances for the Golden Knights.
“For me, it’s a great opportunity,’’ Pirri said. ‘‘I believe I can play in the NHL, and I think I should be. I’ve got to prove it.”
Briefly
According to a report over the weekend, another prominent Premier League club could be coming to Chicago this summer.
The Daily Mail reported that Arsenal is looking into a five-game tour of the United States and is exploring stops in Chicago and on the East Coast. If Arsenal does visit, they would become the fifth major English team to play in the Chicago area in the last five years, joining Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool (2014), Manchester United (2015) and Manchester City (2018).
