Pittsburgh Penguins recall two forwards as they prepare for tough stretch

The Penguins have recalled two forwards from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in advance of Monday night's road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Boko Imama, one of the toughest players in the organization, has spent the majority of the year in the AHL, where he has scored a handful of points in 19 games while logging a team-leading number of penalty minutes.

Big, physical, and intense, he is a natural fit for matchups against rivals like the Flyers, a team he has made an impact against in the past.

Imama is on a one-year, two-way contract with a $775,000 cap hit and has NHL experience, including a career-first goal last season.

The other forward is one of the top prospects in the Penguins' system. Rutger McGroarty is still recovering from an injury suffered during the offseason.

He was activated in mid-November and so far has impressed in limited action in the AHL, scoring multiple points in just five games. Last season, he made his NHL debut, scoring three points in eight games while skating more than 14 minutes per night.

McGroarty remains eligible as a rookie at 21 years old, in the second year of a three-year entry-level deal that carries a $950,000 cap hit.

Both forwards bring depth, energy, and scoring potential to the Penguins, who are embarking on a tough stretch of the schedule.

Their recalls reflect the team's intent to balance physicality and offensive skill while affording key players opportunities to contribute at the NHL level.

A matchup against the Flyers on Monday will be an early test for both players to see where they fit with the Penguins for the remainder of the year.