Ahead of Tuesday’s Black Hockey History Game against the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Boko Imama is already feeling at home in the city.
And – perhaps even more importantly – he feels at home with his teammates.
“I feel like every day I’m here, every time I have a chance to be with the group, it just makes me feel a little bit more comfortable, a little more included,” Imama said. “And I’m just going to try to use that to my advantage and just try to play better.”
Imama, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) – Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate – on Jan. 25, has played in four games with the Penguins. The Montreal native had brief stops with the Arizona Coyotes from 2021-23 and with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24, appearing in only 15 NHL games prior to his stint with the Penguins.
He has just one NHL goal and one point, collected with the Coyotes during that first season. But what Imama brings to the lineup goes beyond production a bit.
“I think Boko’s been great,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. “First and foremost, he’s a terrific kid. He brings a ton of energy. The guys love him. He brings a physical element, and that’s obvious. But, to Boko, it doesn’t matter if he plays three minutes or 30 minutes. He just loves being a Penguin.
“He loves being on the bench, going to battle with his teammates. He’s willing to stick up for them and do whatever it takes to help us win. His attitude and his approach is contagious, and I think he just brings great energy to our group.”
Imama’s parents immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and he takes a lot of pride in representing his family and his roots. He knows how much playing at the NHL level means for him and his family.
“Every day, I come with that chip on my shoulder because I know it’s big for me,” Imama said. “That’s my dream, to play for my family, too. So, it just gives me that gratefulness every day. Just humble to be in that position.”
Sullivan said that they try to put Imama in the lineup in positions that will set him up for success. He pointed to the elements and intangibles that Imama brings to the Penguins lineup, including keeping his game simple, his situational smarts, and knowing if and when to engage opponents physically.
Physicality is a huge part of Imama’s game. It’s also something that the team has been lacking for quite some time, as they haven’t had a player like Imama on their roster in years. Even though he brings those other valuable assets to the lineup, his ability to “impose his will,” as Sullivan put it, is a hallmark of his game.
His coach knows it. He knows it. And his teammates certainly know it, too. But he’s not a one-dimensional player, either. The fighting aspect of it gets talked about, sure, but he’s made a bigger impact on the Penguins lineup beyond that.
His teammates are also well-aware of the impact he’s had on the room as a whole in such a brief amount of time.
“First and foremost, he brings physicality. Everybody knows,” said linemate Blake Lizotte, who was his AHL teammate during their time in the Los Angeles Kings organization. “But I think he has some underlying skill. He’s made some plays out there, which is fun to watch and be a part of. He’s a great guy to play with.
“But in the room, he’s one of the best guys. I’ve known him for a while. Any room he’s in, he lights up, and all the guys love him. So, it’s great to have him here.”
At the end of the day, Imama is an energy guy. He wants to win. He knows his team needs claw its way back into the playoff picture – and he wants to be a part of that.
“My first two games, we didn’t get the win, so I didn’t really get to enjoy what it was like to win with this group of guys,” Imama said. “But that game against [the Utah Hockey Club] was awesome. Just winning and seeing all smiles on the guys’ faces in the locker room, listening to music after, having a good post-game meal… everyone was happy, everyone was telling their stories… it was awesome.
“Hopefully, we can get more wins while I’m up here.”
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