The Penguins have promoted two of their more promising prospects to the big club to finish out the NHL season. Both Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen will get a chance to show their growth this year and get some reps in what should be a low stress environment.

The Penguins have recalled forwards Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).

Forward Joona Koppanen has been re-assigned to WBS. pic.twitter.com/hwgRFRIz19

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 28, 2025

I like the move and I think it makes a lot of sense given where the Penguins are. These two players have had a nice run of things lately in the AHL and the next logical step is to give them a little more.

Well-earned call-ups for McGroarty and Koivunen.

McGroarty: Eight goals/18 points in last 19 games, 14 goals/39 points in 60 total GP after just one point in his first eight AHL games.

Koivunen: 21 goals/55 points in 62 games, T-6th overall in AHL scoring, 1st in rookie scoring

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) March 28, 2025

Both players will get to see if any of this will translate at the highest level and then they will get to take what they will learn in the next eight games or so and bring it back down to the AHL for what should be a decent run in the playoffs for WB/S.

They are going to be put in some favorable spots to start which I really like. If they were going to play 4th line minimal minutes then they could just stay down. They are being given legit spots in the lineup and I’m here for it.

#Pens lines:
McGroarty--Crosby--Rust
Koivunen--Rakell--Dewar
Tomasino--Hayes--Acciari
Heinen--Lizotte--Bemstrom

— Wes Crosby (@othernhlcrosby.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 11:36 AM

#Pens PP1: Crosby, Rust, Rakell, Koivunen, Grzelcyk

PP2: McGroarty, Tomasino, Hayes, Karlsson, Letang

— Wes Crosby (@othernhlcrosby.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM

Two top six roles and two power play roles. They are here to show what they got, as it should be.


Who are they going to be near in the locker room? Who else?

The two lockers directly to the left of Sidney Crosby's:
-- Rutger McGroarty
-- Ville Koivunen

— Wes Crosby (@othernhlcrosby.bsky.social) March 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM

Can’t ask for a much better situation than that. The Penguins are doing this recall right. Now it is up to the players.

I really liked this quote from Sergei Murashov about Rutger McGroarty

Obsessed with this quote from Sergei Murashov on Rutger McGroarty [it's from when the Penguins video crew went to WBS during the 4 Nations Break]: pic.twitter.com/3TXVncXvcN

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 28, 2025

These aren’t the only two interesting promotions happening at the moment. The WB/S Penguins will be gaining a very intriguing defenseman

The @penguins keep the promotions coming, assigning their second-round pick from the 2024 Draft, Harrison Brunicke, to the @WBSPenguins. #LetsGoPens @blazerhockey https://t.co/gtsCqmFMyZ

— Ryan Gagne (@keepingthestats) March 28, 2025

I love this as well. Brunicke had the early stages of his junior season derailed after a very impressive NHL training camp. He was hurt and missed a chunk of time. He ended up playing 41 games and had 30 points for the Kamloops Blazers. The team had a rough season and there were no playoffs for them. Selfishly, I’m glad they aren’t in the playoffs because it gives Brunicke the chance to make the jump to the AHL, where he probably should have been the entire time anyways. I’m really curious to see if Brunicke can follow up his training camp with some more impressive professional outings.

Penguins are back in action tomorrow against the Senators at 5PM.

Thanks for reading!

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