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Michael DeRosa

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Kelsey Surmacz·1d·Partner

Recalling McGroarty, Koivunen Right Move By Penguins' Management

In their last three games - all losses - against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Buffalo Sabres, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been outscored, 17-7. Even though they're not yet mathematically eliminated, this has, effectively, ended their season and any hopes of a playoff run. And now, the organization turns to the future. On Friday, the Penguins recalled top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - to the NHL club, using up their final two call-ups of the season. McGroarty - who turns 21 on Sunday, when the Penguins take on the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh - has 14 goals and 39 points in 60 AHL games this season, including eight goals and 18 points in his last 19 games. The developmental process was there for him all along this season, and the production finally started to catch up in the latter half of the season. Koivunen - the 21-year-old Finnish forward who came over last spring as part of the Jake Guentzel trade - has registered 21 goals and 55 points in 62 AHL games this season, leading all rookies in scoring and sitting at sixth in overall AHL scoring. He also leads WBS in scoring this season. This is all quite impressive for a player's first season in North American professional hockey. If folks haven't been paying attention, WBS is on quite the run this season. With one of the youngest rosters they have had in quite some time, the team clinched a Calder Cup playoff berth with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday. What WBS is doing this season is special. They have scored more goals than anyone in the AHL other than the Colorado Eagles and the San Jose Barracuda. They are tied for sixth in the league in terms of points percentage at .645. And they are 5-2-3 so far this season against the Hershey Bears, the reigning Calder Cup champs who are currently atop the division. After the trade deadline, Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas stressed the importance of the organization's prospects building a winning culture and playing meaningful games together. And with the certainty of the Calder Cup playoffs a lock, that is still going to happen. In other words, there is absolutely no hurt in calling up McGroarty and Koivunen to close out the regular season with the NHL club - and it was absolutely the right call. Beyond the fact that the timeline adds up - Pittsburgh's regular season ends on Apr. 17 against the Washington Capitals and WBS's ends on Apr. 19 against the Cleveland Monsters, making it fair to assume both players will remain in the NHL through the end of the season - there is something to be said about the decision to reward two young prospects for their performance. WBS will have a good shot at a long playoff run regardless, and both players will be back in time for that run. So this decision doesn't harm that mentality of the young players "winning together" that Dubas and the organziation values. But what it does do is signal to the young players that they will, in fact, be rewarded when they've earned it. This isn't a small thing for an organization attempting a rebuild on-the-fly, especially with so many prospects on the verge of being NHL-ready. With several pending free agents on the NHL roster - unrestricted and restricted - it's reasonable to assume that some of these prospects will be vying for full-time spots on the NHL roster next season. When factoring in guys like McGroarty and Koivunen, the Penguins will have a good mix of higher-end veteran talent, youth potential, and rostered placeholders to give youth a good amount of runway to learn and develop at the NHL level. Allowing these two players to remain on the roster for the final eight games of the regular season for the NHL club will give management - and fans - a bit of a preview of what to expect in 2025-26. Of course, it would have been nice to see prospects like Owen Pickering, Avery Hayes, Vasily Ponomarev, and perhaps even Harrison Brunicke - who was re-assigned to WBS Friday after the conclusion of his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - get a late-season NHL opportunity as well. But, unfortunately, the Penguins had just two of their four post-deadline recalls remaining, and they prioritized those final two slots for two players who not only earned the opportunity but also figure to be a large part of the organization's rebuild plan moving forward. Confidence is crucial for young players. It's important for them to feel like their hard work is being noticed and, again, getting rewarded. That is exactly what has happened here, and McGroarty and Koivunen will be better for it when they attempt to become full-time NHLers next season. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Kelsey Surmacz·2d·Partner

BREAKING: Sidney Crosby Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Point-Per-Game Seasons Record

After 20 years in the making, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has made NHL history. On Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, Crosby registered a first-period goal to clinch his 20th consecutive NHL season at a point-per-game pace, which officially breaks the previous NHL record set by Wayne Gretzky at 19. Crosby also accomplished the record by doing so in the first 20 seasons of his career, meaning he has not registered a single season under point-per-game for two decades - something that has never been done in NHL history. He is also riding a nine-game point streak (seven goals, 14 points) - which is the longest active streak in the NHL - and he leads the NHL in five-on-five points this season with 53. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Kelsey Surmacz·9h·Partner

Penguins Forward Boko Imama Out 4-6 Months

A feel-good hockey story has, unfortunately, hit a major bump in the road. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Boko Imama - recalled from the AHL on Jan. 25 - underwent successful biceps surgery on Mar. 29, it was announced by Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas. "That's an unfortunate one," head coach Mike Sullivan said following Saturday's practice. This is a blow to the Penguins' locker room, as Imama is one of the key guys in it. Sullivan has talked about the positive energy that Imama has brought since his call-up, and his energy and attitude have won the respect of his teammates. A native of Montreal, Imama, 28, was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason. The enforcer was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2015 NHL draft. He has made his rounds as a journeyman between the NHL and AHL levels, as he had played a total of 15 NHL games between the Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators prior to his arrival in the Penguins' organization. He skated in 16 games with the Penguins this season and registered his lone goal - and lone point - of the season in a Mar. 21 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Primarily an enforcer, Imama also put up 30 penalty minutes in those 16 games. Imama is expected to miss four to six months. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Kelsey Surmacz·9h·Partner

'Sid and the Kids': McGroarty, Koivunen Skate With Crosby, Top-Six In Practice

Sid the Kid may have broken a major Wayne Gretzky record in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. But it was Sid and the Kids at Saturday's practice in Cranberry, PA. Top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen - both recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) on Friday - each had an opportunity to work with Sidney Crosby during drills and line rushes, as Koivunen saw minutes on the top power play unit and McGroarty was deployed on the first line with Crosby and Bryan Rust. The captain also took some time to work with the young forwards following practice. Crosby thinks that both players brought some renewed energy to practice following a disastrous 0-2-1 road trip, and he is looking forward to working with them. "I thought they brought good energy," Crosby said. "I thought it was a good pace in practice, and obviously, we're coming off a couple tough losses. The guys are excited for the opportunity they have, and as a group, we want to try to bounce back from a couple of tough ones." McGroarty - who turns 21 on Sunday, when the Penguins will take on the Ottawa Senators in Pittsburgh - had a brief three-game look at the NHL level when the 2024-25 season opened before heading back to the AHL. He started off a bit slow production-wise, but registered 14 goals and 39 points in 60 games - including eight goals and 18 points in his last 19 contests. Koivunen - the 2`1-year-old winger acquired as part of the Jake Guentzel trade in 2024 - led all AHL rookies in points and was sixth overall in AHL scoring with 21 goals and 55 points in 62 games. Both McGroarty and Koivunen know that there is a massive opportunity in front of them, and they may have the chance to be placed in lineup positions conducive to their success on Sunday. "I want to come here and play my best and help them," McGroarty said of playing with Crosby and Rust. "It's really cool getting to play with them, and hopefully, if that opportunity comes, I'll just put my best forward and do what I can do and help them." Koivunen - who is slated to make his NHL debut on Sunday - is aware of the opportunity he is getting as well, and he has no interest in wasting it. "I've got to play with my strengths and make an impact right away on this team," Koivunen said. It's safe to say that most didn't expect the two young prospects to be deployed in top-six minutes from the jump. However, with only eight games remaining in the Penguins’ regular season schedule, playoff hopes all but gone, and both players presumably heading back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the team's Calder Cup run once the NHL regular season concludes, there is a very good opportunity for the organization to see what two of their higher-end prospects can do in those roles. And based on conversations with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald and Penguins management, head coach Mike Sullivan felt comfortable slotting them in high-leverage roles in practice right away, even if they decide to tweak some things by puck drop Sunday. “When you have players of this caliber, you're trying to set them up for success," Sullivan said. "And we're also trying to put them in roles where they have an opportunity to play to their strengths. Both of these guys have high hockey-IQs, they're both real competitive guys, they both have an offensive dimension to their game... they're different in how they play, but we think that with the combinations we had out there today, potentially, they could be complementary on the lines that they're on." He added: "As an organization, we felt it's important to reward guys for effort and performance," Sullivan said. "And these two guys are very deserving. It's exciting for us. They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I think it will be great for our group." Whether or not McGroarty and Koivunen maintain their lineup spots from Saturday's practice when the team plays Ottawa remains to be seen. In any case, their captain and mentor had some sound advice for them as they navigate this final stretch with the NHL club. "Just make the most of the opportunity," Crosby said. "Have fun with it. The game's the same. It will be a little bit faster, guys are a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, maybe. But, for the most part, it's the same game. So, just trust your instincts and continue to learn with each and every game and practice. I think you've just got to learn as much as you can." And it's safe to say that that the kids are certainly open to Crosby's advice. When asked what he wants to learn from Crosby's game and what traits of his that he wants to develop, McGroarty smiled. "Seriously, everything," he said. "Like, actually everything." Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Ryan Gagne·2d·Partner

Penguins Crosby Joins Exclusive Club With Another 80-Point Season

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored a first-period goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, March 27, securing his 14th 80-point season. Besides surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record of 20 seasons averaging a point-per-game, Crosby also joins The Great One in an exclusive club featuring three other Hockey Hall of Famers. Since turning 30 in 2017, Crosby has compiled six seasons of 80 points or more, which ties Gretzky, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, and Jean Ratelle for most 80-point seasons by a player age 30 or older. After the 2023-24 season, Crosby had five seasons on his resume, tying him with fellow Hall of Famers: Martin St. Louis, Joe Sakic, Adam Oates, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, and Johnny Bucyk. If the Penguins' captain can score 80 points in his last two seasons, he'd overtake the record and set the bar at eight seasons. However, when looking at the list of active players over 30 with at least two 80-point campaigns, Crosby would be wise to pay attention to the careers of Artemi Panarin (33) and Nikita Kucherov (31), as these two superstars have the skills to eventually find themselves at or near the top of this exclusive list.

Kelsey Surmacz·2d·Partner

Despite Dud Against Buffalo, Crosby The Star Of The Show

There wasn't a whole lot to write home about in the Pittsburgh Penguins' brutal 7-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Goaltender Tristan Jarry was pulled for the second consecutive game, an outing which included two Sabres goals on the first two shots of the game. The Penguins' defense - on the blue line and within the forward unit - was asleep at the wheel, seemingly uninterested in, well, playing defense. Luck was not on their side, either, as bounces failed to go their way left and right. But, in what is now almost certainly a lost season, one bounce did go their way. And - ultimately - it was the one that mattered most in this game between two teams at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With eight minutes and 49 seconds left in the first period and trailing 2-0, the Penguins were forechecking low, and Rickard Rakell gathered the puck. He threw a pass to the net-front to Sidney Crosby, who kicked it to his own stick and flicked the puck bar-down past Sabres netminder James Reimer. And with that goal - Crosby's 26th of the season - he clinched his 20th consecutive season at point-per-game, which officially broke Wayne Gretzky's previous record of 19. The Sabres scored the next five goals, all in the second period. And Blake Lizotte and Kevin Hayes added tallies for Pittsburgh in the final frame to make the final score 7-3. But it was Crosby who was the star of the night, and he once again proved why he's been the star of the last two decades for the NHL. "It's remarkable," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's in such rare company with where he is right now. With every milestone that he crosses, I guess, it just puts him in more elite company than he's already in. So, I just think, when you think in terms of 20 seasons in a row with such consistency, it's an amazing accomplishment. "And it doesn't surprise me because I know how hard he works and how hard he trains, and he controls everything in his power to set himself up for success and, ultimately, the team. I've said it on so many occasions, just his passion for the game, his willingness to put the work in to continue to be at his best... it's just remarkable." His teammates are nothing short of amazed at their captain's accomplishment, too, as several of them have been around to witness it for a decade or more. "He's a tremendously special player and person," linemate Bryan Rust said, who has been with the team since 2014. "You can see his hard work in everything. Just... 20 years is a huge accomplishment. It says more about him as a person than as a player. "He works extremely hard, and he knows what it takes. There's a lot of people who can be good for one, two, or five years, but to do it that long... I think that's incredibly special." Crosby, of course, gave a lot of credit to the guys he has played with over the years in helping him achieve the milestone. But with the competitor he is, he knew it didn't taste quite the same because of the way the team lost. And no one should expect anything less from the game's ultimate - and, literally, its most consistent - competitor. "You play to win," Crosby said. "It's obviously a special milestone, but in a game like that, it's not really the same. So, just a tough night. Tough night." Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Kelsey Surmacz·1d·Partner

March Penguins Prospects Update: Goaltenders

There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins. With more talent in the system than they've had in recent memory, the Penguins have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. We close out our March Penguins Prospects Update with goaltending. Sergei Murashov If you've been paying any mind at all to the Penguins' farm system, it's becoming increasingly harder to ignore what Murashov is doing in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). He has already broken the WBS rookie record for consecutive wins, and he is currently tied for the franchise record for consecutive wins with 11, previously set by John Curry in 2008-09. Murashov is 11-0-0 with a shutout and a .916 save percentage at the AHL level this season, and he has been starting the majority of games in the team's stretch run. He is still a raw prospect and needs to refine things such as his rebound control, but his athleticism, anticipation, and quickness post-to-post is better than any goaltending prospect the Penguins have had in quite a while. If you're a Penguins' fan, you need to start paying attention to the 20-year-old Murashov. Development still needs to happen for the young Russian goaltender - who, prior to this stint, hadn't owned a save percentage below .920 in any professional league (including the KHL) since he was 16 years old - but this kid appears to be the real deal. In fact, he may just be the Penguins' best prospect. Joel Blomqvist Blomqvist, 23, saw two different NHL stints this season. The first was at the beginning of the NHL season, and it was a good one. The second one? It was clear that some development still needed to happen for Blomqvist, so he was sent back to WBS on Mar. 3. At the NHL level this season, Blomqvist put up an .885 save percentage, and he has a .910 save percentage with a 7-5-3 record at the AHL level this season. The trouble is that Blomqvist has been dealing with an injury ever since, so he has not seen an AHL game since Feb. 16 and hasn't seen a game, period, since Mar. 2. Even if he does manage to come back before the end of the season, he is not likely to see that much action because of the way Murashov has suddenly solidified himself as the starting goaltender for WBS. Filip Larsson Larsson, 26, has also been spectacular for WBS this season. Although Murashov has been getting the biggest workload recently, Larsson is still showing that his 2024-25 AHL season is no fluke. He has an 11-8-3 record with a .916 save percentage across 24 games this season. Injuries have kept him from putting together a full season, but when he's been the guy, he's been reliable. However, Larsson has struggled a bit in the month of March, posting just an .877 save percentage with a 2-4 record to go along with it. Still, he's had a solid season, and Penguins fans should be happy with where his development is at. Taylor Gauthier Gauthier, 24, is now the starting goaltender for the Wheeling Nailers with Murashov out of the picture. And he has not disappointed. The 6-foot-2 netminder from Calgary is 13-10-2 with a .925 save percentage this season, which ranks fifth in the ECHL among qualified goaltenders. He is following up his 2023-24 ECHL Goaltender of the Year season with another strong campaign. Although his future is in the NHL is a longshot because of the guys in front of him at this point, he is proving to be a reliable depth option in the Penguins' system. Jaxon Castor Unlike Gauthier, Castor has struggled a bit at the ECHL level this season. The 28-year-old undrafted goaltender - a lefty - is 5-6-1 with an .869 save percentage on the season. He is doing his best in a backup role for the Wheeling Nailers, but Gauthier is getting the vast majority of the starts for a reason. Thomas Gale Although Gale, a 24-year-old netminder from Kirkland, Quebec, has not yet played an ECHL game yet this season - he just transferred to Wheeling on Mar. 28 for an amateur tryout (ATO) - he did enjoy a solid NCAA season for the College of the Holy Cross. In 39 games played for the Crusaders, he put together a 24-13-2 record with a .927 save percentage and two shutouts. Upon arrival, he will likely get some runway for a chance to assume the backup role behind Gauthier for Wheeling. He may be someone to keep an eye on in the Penguins system if he does, indeed, stick with the team. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Ryan Gagne·3h·Partner

3 NHL Records Penguins' Captain Crosby Will Come Close To, But Won't Break

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer whose career is worthy of skipping the mandatory three-year waiting period to enter the hall immediately upon retirement. Recently, Crosby broke Wayne Gretzky's record for averaging a point per game for 20 seasons, a mark the Great One held for over 27 years. Considering these hockey legends are two of the greatest to play professional hockey, their longevity has allowed them to break or hold some important NHL records. However, both missed some milestones despite playing 20 or more seasons in the league. Today, we want to look at three NHL records that Crosby, who still has two seasons left on his contract, won't be able to tie or break despite over two decades in the NHL. Most Seasons by a First Overall Pick Crosby was the top pick in the 2005 Draft, which took place seven seasons into Joe Thornton's career. Thornton was the first overall selection in the 1997 Draft and would play 24 seasons in the NHL, including 17 after Crosby entered the league in 2005-06. Interestingly, these two top picks met in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins won the series in six games, and Crosby took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, Thornton's only appearance in the Final. Although Crosby has outscored Thornton in goals (618-430) and points (1,676-1539), Sid the Kid is still chasing Jumbo Joe in assists (1,109-1,058). He needs 51 over the two seasons to move up to seventh all-time, which is Thornton's place. Since Crosby is wrapping up his 20th season, when his contract expires in 2027, he'll be two seasons short of Thornton's record of 24 seasons. However, if he remains healthy, Crosby will surpass Mike Modano (21 seasons) for second-most seasons by a first-overall pick. Most Seasons With 80 Points On March 27, 2025, Crosby scored a first-period goal to net his 80th point, which gave him the NHL record for most seasons averaging a point per game. That historical night also marked the 14th time in his career that Crosby scored at least 80 points, breaking a four-way tie for most 80-point seasons, a mark he shared with Dale Hawerchuk, Mark Messier, and Marcel Dionne at 13. As mentioned before, Crosby has two seasons left on his deal. The Penguins captain hasn't scored less than 80 points since the shortened 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, the only two years he failed to reach 80 in over a decade dating back to the shortened 2012-13 season. However, even if he continues collecting 80 points over the next two seasons, Crosby will end up one year short of Gretzky's record of 17 seasons of 80 points or more. Most Points by a Player in Their 30s Crosby will turn 38 in August, and at the end of his contract in July 2027, he'll be 39, approaching 40. Since turning 30 ahead of the 2017-18 season, the captain has played 563 games, scored 236 goals with 413 assists, and has 649 points. Ahead of his next game, Crosby ranks 18th all-time for points scored by an NHL player in his 30s. He's four points shy of catching Joe Pavelski (653) for 17th all-time. Pavelski is the only name ahead of Crosby on this list who is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame. As expected, Gretzky owns this record thanks to 217 goals and 601 assists for 878 points, breaking the mark formerly held by Jean Ratelle, who had 861 points in his 30s. Thus far, only four players have scored over 800 points in their 30s, including Adam Oates (842) and Martin St. Louis (822). After these names, there are six names in the 700-point club, including Alex Ovechkin, who sits at 715. Once Crosby catches and surpasses Pavelski, next up is Joe Sakic (662), Norm Ullman (668), Daniel Alfredsson (672), Ray Bourque (680), and Brett Hull (690). Considering the Penguins' captain has a career 1.24 points per game average, if he remains healthy over the next two seasons, he could potentially finish with an additional 204 points, which would give him an estimated 853 points in his 30s, which could be 25 points shy of Gretzky's all-time mark.

Kelsey Surmacz·2d·Partner

March Penguins Prospects Update: Defensemen

There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins. With more talent in the system than they've had in recent memory, the Penguins have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. We will take a look at how some of the organization's top defensive prospects are faring right now in our March prospects update. Harrison Brunicke Despite missing more than two months due to a wrist fracture sustained on Nov. 14, Brunicke hasn't missed a beat this season. The 18-year-old blueliner registered five goals and 30 points in 41 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL this season, and this followed a marvelous training camp that saw him make it all the way to final cuts. Unfortunately, his production wasn't enough to help elevate the Blazers to the postseason, but that may have been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Because the Blazers' season is over, the 2024 second-round pick (44th overall) is expected to be recalled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - to aid the team in its Calder Cup run, which was clinched yesterday in an 4-3 overtime win against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Brunicke's skating, smarts, mobility, and ability to get inside opponents at both end of the rink are the tenets of his game, and if he bulks up a bit more and adds some size to his 6-foot-3 frame, he will be the complete package. Penguins' fans should be very excited about Brunicke, as he is - arguably - their best prospect, period. And honestly? Yes, he's on track to get the call to WBS - but it wouldn't be all that shocking to see him get a few games in Pittsburgh by the end of the season instead. Owen Pickering After a 25-game stint in Pittsburgh earlier this season, Pickering was re-assigned to WBS in January for development purposes. And although he saw a bit of an adjustment period back to the AHL, the first-round pick in 2022 (21st overall) certainly has been helping contribute to the cause in WBS. Pickering may only have two goals and nine points in 39 AHL games this season, but his game is rounding out in other areas. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound left blueliner is developing more of a shutdown game, which is something that Pittsburgh fans saw glimpses of during his NHL stint. It'd be nice to see more production come around for Pickering, which could happen eventually. Defensemen - big, lanky ones, in particular - tend to take a bit longer to develop than other players. Patience will be the key with Pickering, but he's already starting to round out a lot of the details that the organization wanted to see out of him. It's fair to expect him to be on the NHL roster full-time in 2025-26. Emil Pieniniemi Pieniniemi, 20, continues to impress quite a bit this season in the OHL. In 60 games with the Kingston Frontenacs, the 2023 third-round pick (91st overall) registered 10 goals and 60 points, and he and his team will play the Sudbury Wolves in the first round of the 2025 OHL playoffs. He finished sixth in OHL scoring among defenseman, and he helped lead Finland to silver at the World Junior Championship at the turn of the new year. After being drafted primarily for his defensive and play-killing instincts, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound defenseman has developed a potent offensive game as well, which has really helped his stock rise within the organization and within prospect rankings. He will not be eligible for junior hockey next season, so Pieniniemi will likely play in the AHL. And - depending on how far the Frontenacs go in the postseason - it's not out-of-the-question that he joins Brunicke in playing for WBS by the end of this season. Finn Harding Two slots behind Pieniniemi in OHL scoring this season was defenseman Finn Harding (seven goals, 57 points in 67 games), who was a re-entry seventh-round draft selection (223rd overall) by the Penguins in 2024. Like Pieniniemi and the Frontenacs, Harding's Brampton Steelheads will vye for the OHL championship this spring, and they will take on the Oshawa Generals in the first round. His offensive game has taken strides this season, and this adds to an already-steady presence on the blueline as a reliable defender on the rush and with his gap control. Becoming a regular at the NHL level is more of a longshot for Harding than it is for the players mentioned above. But he continues to prove - at least, so far - that his value exceeds his re-draft positioning. If Harding can really hone his two-way game and improve his skating, he may very well be a reliable bottom-pairing NHL defenseman sometime in the future. And, at the end of the day, having defensive depth certainly doesn't hurt the Penguins - especially on the right side, where they are thinner on organizational depth. Chase Pietila Pietila's impressive collegiate season with the Michigan Tech Huskies earned him an entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 9. He registered seven goals and 22 points in 36 games - as well as 32 blocked shots - for the Huskies, and he was also named the Central States Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Defensive Defenseman of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 186-pound blueliner was drafted in the fourth round (111th overall) by the Penguins in 2024. Across two seasons with the Huskies, Pietila has put up 10 goals and 44 points in 76 NCAA games. Although he doesn't have one particular toolset or skill that stands out, Pietila - like Harding - is a reliable defender. His most likely path to the NHL will be in a shutdown role, and this is something the Penguins could use on the right side of their blueline. At 21 years old, Pietila will, presumably, play in WBS next season. He has already played in two games for the team this season and will be around for the playoff run. Daniel Laatsch Laatsch, 23, has spent the past three seasons playing for the University of Wisconsin. The left defenseman was a seventh-round selection (215th overall) by the Penguins in 2021, and over four seasons with the Badgers, he registered six goals and 26 points and just 18 total penalty minutes. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Laatsch certainly knows how to use his frame to his advantage, but a lot of the details in his game still need refinement. He could also develop a bit more of a physical element to his game. Nonetheless, he earned a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 10. Laatsch should be a solid organizational depth signing for the Penguins, but there is still room for growth. Isaac Belliveau It has been a season of ups and downs for Belliveau, who was a fifth-round pick (154th overall) in 2021 by the Penguins. He has spent time in both the AHL and the ECHL, registering three goals and 11 points in 16 games with the Wheeling Nailers and one goal and seven points in 22 games with WBS. Although Belliveau's main draw to his game is on the offensive side, he still needs to work on some of the defensive details. He has been in and out of the lineup while with the AHL squad, so he is currently stationed in the ECHL for development and for the opportunity to play every day. Given the rich defensive prospect pool in the Penguins' system, Belliveau will have to take some major strides in 2025-26 to have a shot at cracking the NHL lineup with Pittsburgh. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Ryan Gagne·1d·Partner

Penguins Second-Round Pick Headed To AHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Friday morning that their 2024 second-round pick, Harrison Brunicke, would be assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 18-year-old right-handed defenseman finished his third season with the Kamloops Blazers, who did not qualify for the playoffs with a 24-39-4-1 record and finished 10th in the WHL Western Conference. Despite the team's place in the standings, Brunicke wrapped up his third WHL season by finishing sixth in team scoring with a career-high 30 points thanks to five goals and 25 assists. Although Brunicke has never played in the AHL, he played some NHL pre-season games this year. Meanwhile, the WBS Penguins are one of the top teams in the AHL, giving the rookie defender a chance to play competitive hockey leading up to the Calder Cup playoffs.

Ryan Gagne·1d·Partner

Penguins Call Up Star Prospects Koivunen & McGroarty

After a disastrous road trip, the Pittsburgh Penguins are calling up some reinforcements from the AHL. On Friday morning, they announced that prospects Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty are bound for Pittsburgh. Currently, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the AHL's fifth-best team, with a 36-18-7-1 record thanks partly to Koivunen, who has compiled 55 points in 62 games, good enough for sixth in league scoring. Meanwhile, since Feb. 15, McGroarty has collected the most points of anyone in the WBS lineup, scoring 18 points in the past 19 games, bringing his season totals to 39 points in 60 games. After coming to the Penguins organization after a mid-summer trade from the Winnipeg Jets, McGroaty played in three NHL games before finding his groove in the AHL. Like McGroarty, Koivunen is playing his first professional season and is the baby Penguins' leading scorer and one of four players to score more than 20 goals this season. The Finnish winger, a key piece in the Jake Guentzel trade, will have a chance to make his NHL debut on this call-up. Since Pittsburgh will not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, both prospects will get some laps in and still have plenty of time to return to the AHL for the Calder Cup playoffs, which begins mid-April. Pittsburgh's next game is Sunday against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena, while WBS visits the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday.

Ryan Gagne·5h·Partner

WBS Penguins Continue Quest For 40 Wins, Defeat Checkers 5-3

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (37-18-7-1) continue their march towards the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, chasing the top spot in the Atlantic Division and pursuing a 40-win season. They got closer to achieving those goals after defeating the Charlotte Checkers 5-3 on Saturday. In his professional debut, 2024 second-round pick Harrison Brunicke had an assist and a shot on a goal while finishing the afternoon minus-1. The rookie set up Vasily Ponomarev's game-winner at 14:43 of the third period, a power-play tally that broke a 2-2 tie. Despite picking up two helpers, Tristan Broz was not one of the game's three stars, as Valtteri Puustinen took top honors, scoring a goal at 12:10 of the second to give the visiting Penguins a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, that lead didn't make it to intermission as the Checkers got lamplighters at 14:57 and 16:15 to tie things up after 40 minutes. Once Ponomarev restored the Penguins' lead, Matt Nieto and Joona Koppanen scored unassisted goals into the empty net at 17:43 and 18:08 to extend the visitor's lead to 5-2. Then, with 26 seconds left, Charlotte scored to make it a 5-3 final. Between the pipes, Filip Larsson made 25 saves on 28 shots (.893 SV%) to improve to 12-8-3 this season. Cooper Black was on the hook for the loss at the other end, stopping 18 of the 21 shots he faced. On special teams, WBS scored one power-play goal (Ponomarev) while going perfect on the penalty kill, 3-for-3. Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, with Charlotte finishing with more shots, 28-23. Interestingly, Saturday's contest was not a day for players racking up assists. Three of the eight goals were unassisted, and only one tally (Ponomarev) had a secondary assist. The Penguins have nine games left and have already clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. Their next game is Sunday, a rematch with the Checkers. WBS is looking for its 38th win of the year and is chasing its first 40-win season since 2017-18. Additionally, they are just three points behind the Hershey Bears for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, a crown they haven't won since 2016-17.

Ryan Gagne·2d·Partner

WBS Penguins Can Snap Organization Playoff Winless Streak

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins punched their ticket to the Calder Cup playoffs on Wednesday with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Unlike their NHL affiliate, the Pittsburgh Penguins, WBS will qualify for the postseason for the second straight season and the third time in the past four years, missing the playoffs in 2022-23. Last year, the baby Penguins were swept in two games by their cross-state rivals, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Before that series, they were swept by the Springfield Thunderbirds in three games in the first round of the 2021-22 Calder Cup playoffs. WBS advanced to face the Thunderbirds thanks to a win in the qualifying round over the Hershey Bears in three games, earning a 4-3 overtime win in Game 3. That game occurred on May 9, 2022, which happened to be the same night when Pittsburgh defeated the New York Rangers 7-2 at PPG Paints Arena. Interestingly, both teams would lose their next three playoff games that season and be eliminated on the same day, May 15, 2022, in one-goal games: Pittsburgh lost 4-3 in overtime, and WBS lost 7-6. As mentioned, Pittsburgh hasn't skated in a playoff game since May 15, 2022, and WBS hasn't won a game since May 9, 2022. Considering that the baby Penguins are one of the top teams in the AHL this season, there's an excellent chance they will snap the organization's playoff-winless streak next month.

Ryan Gagne·1d·Partner

3 Takeaways From Penguins Brutal Loss To Sabres

The Pittsburgh Penguins (29-34-11) finished their three-game road trip with a disastrous performance at KeyBank Center. They fell to the Buffalo Sabres 7-3 on a historic night, as Sidney Crosby broke Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game record. In a recurring theme, Tristan Jarry gave up a goal on the first shot of the game, and the Penguins were never able to recover as the younger Sabres kept lighting the lamp in hopes of climbing out of the Eastern Conference basement. Thankfully, Pittsburgh has a few days off before their game, providing plenty of time to unpack this performance. Crosby Steals the Headlines Unfortunately, the Penguins were chasing the game less than a minute after the opening puck drop; captain Sidney Crosby scored at 11:11 of the first period to collect his 80th point of the season. The milestone goal cut the deficit to 2-1 for the home team, as Bryan Rust grabbed the puck out of the net to celebrate Crosby's historic achievement of earning his 20th point-per-game campaign. Even though only four Buffalo skaters failed to get on the scoresheet, and seven had two-point games, Crosby stole all the headlines by etching his name into the NHL record book. The End of Tristan Jarry Jarry rediscovered his game in the AHL for over a month, coming back to Pittsburgh to go on a four-game win streak. However, when he finally lost, it was like he had lost all his confidence again and had yet to find it. For the second consecutive game, Mike Sullivan started Jarry, and for the second game in a row, he had to pull him as he gave up four goals on 12 shots to finish the night with a .667 SV%. Originally drafted by the Penguins in 2013, the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh is here. The Penguins must move on from a goalie who just can't make a save, let alone one on the first shot of the game. Thursday night was Jarry's third shortest start of the season and his third-worst SV% game, which is not statistics worthy of being an NHL netminder. Penguins Different Team Without Malkin Evgeni Malkin missed his second consecutive game, and the Penguins gave up at least six goals in each. As the team's second-line center, Malkin leads another layer of attack that isn't there when he's not. Even though most of the team's scoring has come from Crosby, Rust, and Rickard Rakell, Malkin is the Penguins' fifth-leading scorer and a future Hall of Famer that opponents tend to game plan for. Without him in the lineup, the secondary scoring dries up, and the bottom six players are shuffled to compensate for the second-line opening, changing the offense's dynamics. Despite the fanbase wondering what the team would look like without the 38-year-old in the lineup, the answer currently appears to be a mess. However, the Penguins can overcome his absence with some retooling and restructuring.

Kelsey Surmacz·3d·Partner

WBS Penguins Clinch Playoff Berth With Thrilling 4-3 Overtime Win Over Hartford

Heading into a massively important game against the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had led the season series 5-0 and had outscored Hartford, 24-5. It didn't come easy on Wednesday. But they got it done - and they punched their ticket to the dance in the process. The WBS Penguins defeated Hartford, 4-3, on a thrilling overtime breakaway finish from forward Avery Hayes. Hayes - who signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 13 - had two goals on the night, while Ville Koivunen and Valtteri Puustinen also lit the lamp for the Penguins. Rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov earned the win in a 35-save effort, giving him an 11-0-0 AHL record this season. His 11th straight win also tied him with John Curry (2008-09) for the most consecutive wins in team history. Puustinen got things started in the first period when he buried a rebound, giving WBS the early lead. Hartford responded with a shorthanded goal a few minutes later, then Hayes tallied his first goal of the game on the same power play sequence to make it 2-1. Hartford took the lead in the second period with two tallies, and one of them came via Brendan Brisson - son of Sidney Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson - on the power play. The score didn't remain 3-2 in favor of Hartford for long, however, as Koivunen registered his 21st of the season 28 seconds into the third period off of a perfect stretch pass from defenseman Sebastian Aho. The game remained tied through the end of regulation, forcing overtime. And with time dwindling on the overtime clock, Vasily Ponomarev worked hard along the wall to win a puck battle and guide the puck up ice to a breaking Hayes, who sealed the deal with 12 seconds remaining in overtime on a shot fake that rolled off of his stick and through the five-hole of Hartford goaltender Dylan Garad. It was an impressive win for the Penguins, but they know their work isn't finished. "We've raised our standards where, to us right now, our goal is getting second place [in the Atlantic Division]," WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald told reporters after the game. "Maybe we can catch Hershey, we've got to win the games against them... I think just being satisfied with just making the playoffs now isn't good enough. I think the guys have set the tone for that." Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!