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 forward prospects are faring right now in our February prospects update.
For those who have followed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and McGroarty this season, they know that the process has been there the entire season. There was a bit of an adjustment curve for McGroarty, whose process needed to result in production at some point.
That point seems to have arrived.
McGroarty has two goals and seven points in his last five games, and, after having just three points in his first 12 games, he has seven goals and 25 points in 34 games since.
Penguins Assistant General Manager – and General Manager of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – said that McGroarty’s slow start helped him develop the defensive side of his game. And now the production is catching up, he’s a threat everywhere on the ice.
“I think he’s been a huge success story for us right now in terms of just continually getting better,” Spezza said. “There’s still a ways to go consistency-wise, but he’s been playing very well for, probably, over two months now. It’s the little things in his game that show up.
“I think he’s the type of guy that, as the games get bigger, he will have bigger moments because of his details.”
Koivunen is really turning heads in the AHL this season. The 21-year-old leads all AHL rookies in scoring with 44 points in 48 games. He has 16 goals, and he’s been showing a pretty seamless adjustment to the AHL level that wasn’t necessarily expected so quickly.
His playmaking smarts are on display. He’s got a shot…