The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of young players to keep an eye on next season as they continue their retool. They will certainly be hoping that their most notable prospects end up taking big steps forward in their development in 2025-26.

In a recent article for The Hockey News' main site, Ryan Kennedy discussed one breakout candidate for each team in the Metropolitan Division. When it came to the Penguins, Kennedy went with forward Rutger McGroarty.

When noting that McGroarty is the Penguins' top prospect, it is easy to understand why Kennedy views him as a prime breakout candidate for Pittsburgh in 2025-26. The 21-year-old forward has all the tools to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward, and it would be huge if he could become just that for the Penguins next season.

McGroarty appeared in his first eight NHL games this past season with Pittsburgh, where he recorded one goal, two assists, three points, and 12 hits. He spent the bulk of it at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, however, where he had 14 goals and 39 points in 60 games. It was a solid first year for the 2022 first-round pick, and it will be interesting to see how he builds off it in 2025-26 from here.

Overall, there is a lot to like about McGroarty's game, and it is hard not to feel excited about his future. When looking at the Penguins' current roster, he has a real shot of competing for a spot in their top six, so it could very well be a big year for the Lincoln, Nebraska native.

Ex-Penguins Defenseman Signs PTO With New Team The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild">Minnesota Wild</a> have announced that they have signed former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> defenseman Jack Johnson to a professional tryout (PTO). 

Penguins Exciting Prospect Named Top Breakout Candidate