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. Today, we will take a look at how some of the organization’s top forward prospects are faring this season.
Rutger McGroarty
Perhaps the one prospect everyone is monitoring closely is Rutger McGroarty, who GM and POHO Kyle Dubas brought in over the summer for Brayden Yager in a top prospect swap with the Winnipeg Jets.
After starting the season at the NHL level and registering no points in three games, the Nebraska native was sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) – Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate – and got off to a slow start with just one goal and three points in his first 12 AHL games.
However, things are looking up since then. In his last 16 games, he has registered four goals and 11 points, including two game-winning goals. His hockey IQ, 200-foot game and versatility, physicality, and playmaking ability are also evident when watching games as opposed to strictly highlight reels.
All in all, things are trending in an upward direction for the 20-year-old right wing, who was drafted 14th overall in 2022 by the Jets.
Vasily Ponomarev
Vasily Ponomarev – who was part of the prospect package acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade last spring – was injured to start the season and also saw three NHL games with no points. Like McGroarty, he got off to a bit of a slow start in the AHL this season as well, registering just a goal and three points in his first eight AHL games.
Since then? The 22-year-old Russian forward has been one of WBS’s best players in all zones. He has five goals and 15 points in his last 13 games, which includes two shorthanded goals and a power-play goal as part of a hat-trick effort against Hartford on Dec. 7.
Ponomarev is a versatile player who is deployed in all situations – on the power play, penalty kill, starts in all three zones, and both sides of six-on-five – and he has an ability to extend shifts and use his stick work and motor to break plays up defensively and make things happen along the walls offensively.
He’s been thriving while centering a second line of McGroarty and Avery Hayes with a goal and five assists in his last three games. That versatility – as well as his production – will give him a leg-up on other players if and when the NHL Penguins need to call on someone.
Ville Koivunen
At just 21…