The Pittsburgh Penguins open their 2025-26 season on the road against the New York Rangers. Videos have been circulating of Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang putting in the work as they prepare for the new season. The offseason brought changes behind the bench and on the roster – Dan Muse is the new head coach, and management brought in some veteran players. While the Penguins appear to have slightly improved on paper, it isn’t a drastic leap towards being a contender.
Expectations remain modest for the team. For certain players, however, there will be high expectations to have a bounce-back season or to prove they can be future leaders of the team. For veterans like Crosby and Bryan Rust, expectations are simple – lead by example and mentor the young players. For Rutger McGroarty, the spotlight will be on him to prove they made the right decision in acquiring him from the Winnipeg Jets. With the season right around the corner, what will be the expectations for each player in their forward group?
Rutger McGroarty
Playing in the 2024-25 preseason against other young prospects and some bottom-six NHL talent, McGroarty looked good. As the regular season got underway, as it does with any young player entering their first season in the league, reality hit him. It was apparent that his skating and play were not NHL-ready. After three games, he was sent down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (WBS) in the American Hockey League (AHL), a season-long stint that saw his game improve significantly.
It was evident he needed a bit of time to adjust to the faster pace, and he did, with a mindset to always work hard. With the Penguins well out of the playoffs, he was recalled to finish the season in Pittsburgh. In his second game back, he registered his first two points (a goal and an assist). He finished the season with three points in eight games, but those points came in his final five games.
Related: Penguins of the Future: Rutger McGroarty Starting to Live up to the Hype
Though he may not be a high-scoring forward in just his second season, he has an opportunity of a lifetime to play alongside Crosby again. He has been putting in the work this offseason to prepare and be ready for the opportunity to earn a full-time roster spot.
He’s a two-way forward and has excelled throughout his career at the position. His NHL Edge numbers show just…
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