Penguins make logical move with top prospect

Rutger McGroarty won’t be able to suit up against the organization that drafted him later this week, after all. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they have assigned McGroarty to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins without a corresponding roster move.

It’s the logical step forward for McGroarty, who was originally supposed to begin the year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had it not been for a few injuries to the Penguins’ forward core. He’s been left off the scoreboard over three games in Pittsburgh to start the year with two shots on net and four hits. He’s posted strong possession numbers over those three games with the Penguins, but his healthy scratch on Tuesday night indicated a move might be on the horizon.

It shouldn’t take too long for McGroarty to get going offensively with the AHL Penguins, who are currently tied for the league lead in goals scored over two games to start the season. They should be able to slot him next to the likes of Emil Bemstrom, Samuel Poulin, Ville Koivunen or Jimmy Huntington to make his transition to professional hockey much easier.

He’s still only one year removed from being one of the better scorers in the NCAA at the University of Michigan. McGroarty’s 16 goals and 52 points in 36 games make him one of, if not the best prospect in the Penguins organization, and he should be on the receiving end of another call-up at some point during the 2024-25 regular season.