You will get to see some of the Pittsburgh Penguins top prospects for at least a little bit.
With the Pittsburgh Penguins on a three-game losing streak, and not looking particularly good in the process, they are making a couple of changes before Sunday’s home game against the Ottawa Senators. The top-two forward prospects in the organization, Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty, are getting recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
As long as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was playing meaningful hockey games it seemed possible — if not likely — that the Penguins were going to let them keep playing important games instead of meaningless games in the NHL. But now that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has officially clinched its spot in the AHL playoffs, this is a good time to give them a taste of NHL action before going back down to the AHL for the postseason.
If nothing else, it will be something different to look for at the NHL level.
Both players have certainly earned a promotion based on the way they have played in the AHL this season.
Koivunen, playing in his first full season of pro hockey in North America, has been one of the most positive and important developments in the Penguins organization this season.
He is not only leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in scoring, he has been one of the top scorers in the AHL (sixth in the league and first among rookies) and is still only 21 years old.
Originally acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, he has emerged as a legitimate prospect and looks to have a future as a middle-six, and potentially even top-six scorer.
McGroarty, a first-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, was acquired over the summer in exchange for Brayden Yager.
While his overall numbers for the season are not quite on Koivunen’s level, he has been outstanding offensively over the past two months and really seen his offense improve. The concensus on his early season performance was that his production was not matching his play. He was unlucky. The results were not always there, but the process was. Now the results are starting to match the process.
McGroarty opened the season in Pittsburgh and played three games before being sent back down to the AHL.
Both players figure to be significant parts of the Penguins roster next season and beyond. Now they get an opportunity to get a taste of what it is like in the NHL and what areas they need to improve over the summer. It is also a chance to see some fresh faces and get a glimpse of what could be ahead in future seasons.