Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen adapts perfectly while the penguins embrace the youth movement
CranberberBer Township, Pennsylvania – There was a moment in the strips of the Penguins after the tests on Saturday at the Lemieux Upmc sports complex which was too precious to be ignored, and could also have subsequently told the story of the day.
Rutger McGroarty, who immediately became the prospect of the best penguins when he was acquired in August, finds his stable next to Sidney Crosby in the locker room. Even better, McGroarty seems to play on the left wing of Crosby when the Penguins host the senators on Sunday, which seems to be McGroarty’s 21st birthday.
McGroarty’s personality is bigger than life. He is intelligent. It’s fun. He is nice. It has a lot of charisma. It’s so beautiful, children would say he has Rizz. If he can play – and I think he can – he will be a very popular young man in Pittsburgh first rather than later.
There is only one recent problem: McGroarty has fought once in the HL, and it didn’t go so well.
Combat. Rutger McGroarty vs Michael Buchinger!
McGroarty came into contact with the goalkeeper of the Thunderbirds Colten Ellis on the side of the network, attracting Buchinger’s wrath.
McGroarty in the end obliged the request, but did not do well for Buchinger in the fight. @Insideahlhockey pic.twitter.com/pbpkbjtrv
– Tony Androckitis* (@tonandrock) February 23, 2025
McGroarty had already met the media, who had walked about two feet on the left for the usual gathering with Crosby.
Before Crosby could start, however, McGroarty was still chatting.
“Anyone see my struggle?”
I’m not sure who was talking to, maybe all of us. We nodded.
“It was so bad,” he said with a laugh. “I managed their goalkeeper, and then we fought. And …”
McGroarty explained that he could not be properly maneuvered to launch a fist.
“And he just pounded,” McGroarty said with a laugh. “It was terrible.”
Crosby, who was patiently waiting for the media questions while we all enjoyed undeniable enthusiasm of McGroarty, finally put us.
The captain of the penguins looked at McGroarty and asked: “Was it at least more than you?”
Michael Buchinger, who hit McGroarty, is listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds.
McGroarty is listed at 6-1, 203.
“Yes, it’s always worse when the other boy is not bigger,” Crosby said with a smile.
The interaction between the two was captivating and is also necessary.
What parts of Sidney Crosby’s game do they want to try to emulate Rutger McGroarty?
“I mean, seriously, everything. Type, in reality, everything.”
Potentially playing on a line with the captain in a NHL match for his 21st birthday is a gift of a gift. Listen from the rookie ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kgl9ipypol
– Penne Inside Scoop (@pensisidescoop) March 29, 2025
This is a desperate organization for an infusion of young people. And not only young players, but young talented players. And the young players who feel like belonging.
McGroarty feels as if it belongs. It does not detach like the minimum arrogant or entitled. There is only a trust in him who generally do not see in the perspectives, especially when you are sitting five feet from a living legend.
In Sat Ville Koivunen of McGroarty, who will make his debut in the NHL against the senators of Ottawa on Sunday. He will play in the second line with Rickard Rakell who serves as a center.
Only eight games remain in what is a lost season for the Penguins, but it is very noteworthy that the organization has decided to let McGroarty and Koivunen play the season in Pittsburgh before returning them to Wilkes-Barre for the post-installation of AHL.
Consider it symbolism. Or a change in philosophy. Or, perhaps the penguins have good perspectives in their hands, something that was not the case since Jake Guentzel exploded on the scene in 2016.
• Generally, penguins would probably not remember their two more talented perspectives with only eight remaining matches in the season.
• Generally, they did not immediately insert two players on the first two lines immediately immediately upon their arrival.
• Generally, the veterans of the penguins would not show so much enthusiasm to push for these two children to receive a heavy game time.
Consider the conversation I had with Rakell, who is playing out of position to welcome these two young people. It would be understandable if Rakell was annoyed by all this, since he is experiencing a year of his career while playing on the Crosby line. Now, on Sunday he must recite an unknown position due to Evgeni Malkin’s persistent accident.
If Rakell has a problem, he has a fun way to show it.
“Let me tell you something,” said Rakell. “These two children should play among the first six at this moment. I’m glad they are. Do you know why they should be? Why will they be high -level guys. I am alone. You can see the talent. So why not play them there now? I’m happy.”
Rakell played Koivunen enough in the training field to find out what he needed to see.
“It’s really fast and really good with the album,” said Rakell. “He just has to play. He’s really good.”
Bryan Rust offered similar feelings on Koivunen and McGroarty thrown into the fire.
“I think when you have guys who potentially predict along the road that plays that role … When they have an opportunity, those are the players with whom they probably play the best,” he said.
The energy that McGroarty and Koivunen brought to the locker room was very clear after the tests on Saturday.
“Always pay attention,” said Rust when he talks about the new guys. “Obviously, pedigree prospects are a little more interesting.”
Koivunen was unable to remove the smile from his face while talking about his suspended debut. Her parents and girlfriend were traveling for Pittsburgh on Saturday.
McGroarty could not stop commenting on what was welcomed.
“I have Sid who makes small chat with me and villas,” he said. “Crazy stuff.”
Crosby is waiting for this day. The penguins did not want to hurry these two to the NHL, so they let them put their things to Wilkes-Barre. But do not make mistakes, crosby and veterans of this team that really count on an infusion of young people is mandatory if the penguins must make their reconstruction process.
Crosby and penguins were in funk during the 2015-16 season. Then Rust, Matt Murray, Conor Sheary, Tom Kühnhackl and Scott Wilson arrived. A few months later, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup and, although that team was much better than this, one thing cannot be clear: the youth movement altered the dynamics of the changing rooms and Crosby, then 28, loved to be the old man as he showed children the ropes.
Now, Crosby is 37 years old. The smile on the face while McGroarty was speaking was aware of the time when Rust and the others arrived.
“Once upon a time,” Rust said, “I wasn’t one of those guys.”
Rust was explaining that he had not received the hype that McGroarty and Koivune are receiving.
“Sid treated me the same,” said Rust. “This makes a long way.”
Rust takes it. Also Rakell. And nobody takes it more than Crosby.
Those three fully intend to be in Pittsburgh when the penguins return to glory. The same goes for coach Mike Sullivan.
It is noteworthy, therefore, that Sullivan is throwing the two children among the first six. Rust is in favor of it. Also Rakell. And Crosby was unable to remove his smile all morning, even staying on the ice with children a long time after the tests ended up working with them.
Penguins are not playing the playoffs this season. There is still a long way to go. The reconstruction is just at the beginning.
Yet, if you consider the surprising decision to bring these two to the NHL and see how welcome the best players of the penguins to welcome her, and with Sullivan who throws them in the fire instead of bringing them slowly, you wonder if perhaps this is not a lost season after everything.
(Photo by Rutger McGroarty: Charles Leclaire / Image Images
