Penguins Prospects Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen Promoted to NHL Roster amid Slump

The fading of the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff aspirations means NHL playing time for some of the franchise's top prospects.

The Penguins have recalled wingers Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ahead of Sunday's game against the Ottawa Senators.

With eight games left in the regular season, the Penguins sit six points back and behind five other teams for the final playoff spot in the East.

Losing four of the team's last five games hasn't just turned the Penguins' focus toward improved odds at the top pick in the upcoming draft. It has also given the franchise a chance to see what their two top forward prospects can do at the next level.

Koivunen was part of the return the Penguins received in the 2024 trade of Jake Guentzel. The former Finnish league standout could now be set to make his NHL debut after leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and ranking fifth in the AHL with 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) in 62 games.

He is the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie to score 21 goals since Daniel Sprong hit the mark in 2017-18, per Penguins PR. Sprong came up to play 63 NHL games the following season.

McGroarty, acquired last summer by sending Brayden Yager to the Winnipeg Jets, is a former Michigan star who made three appearances for the Penguins earlier this season.

Having struggled with the speed of his first three games in the NHL last fall, McGroarty will get another shot at cracking the Penguins roster after spending the last six weeks leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in production with 18 points since Feb. 18.

After three straight playoff misses despite continued point-per-game production from Sidney Crosby, the Penguins are due for significant roster turnover this offseason.

McGroarty and Koivunen, who may both compete for roster spots during training camp next fall, could potentially get the chance to begin their auditions Sunday against the visiting Senators.

It is likely both prospects will be back in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before long, however. The Penguins' AHL affiliate, which has already clinched a playoff spot, will need both forwards back in order to contend for the Calder Cup.