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Rickard Rakell Issues Bold Response After Losing Spot to Rising Prospects
Some of the Penguins' younger prospects are going to be getting some ice time on the top two lines, and Rickard Rakell issued a statement on it and wasn't bothered.
Rutger McGroarty, the Penguins' highest prized prospect after being acquired in August, now occupies the seat next to Sidney Crosby in the locker room, and perhaps on his left shoulder when Pittsburgh plays Ottawa on Sunday, which also happens to be McGroarty's 21st birthday.
To his left in the locker room is Ville Koivunen, who's also going to be making his NHL debut that night. He'll be a second-line guy, with Rickard Rakell dropping down from center to open the spot.
"Let me tell you something," Rakell said. "These two kids, they should be playing in the top six right now. I'm glad they are. You know why they should be? Because they're going to be top-six guys. They just are. You can see the talent. So why not play them there now? I'm glad."
McGroarty and Koivunen will return to the AHL for the playoffs in a few weeks
With eight games remaining in a lost season, the Penguins have decided to keep McGroarty and Koivunen in Pittsburgh before sending them off to Wilkes-Barre for the AHL playoffs.
Rakell, who's operating out of position in an attempt to integrate the young forwards into the lineup, might well have cause to be seething, but if so, he's not indicating it.
"Consider the conversation I had with Rakell, who is playing out of position to accommodate these two youngsters. It would be understandable if Rakell were annoyed by all of this, since he's having a career year while playing on Crosby's line. Now, he has to play an unfamiliar position on Sunday because of Evgeni Malkin's lingering injury."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
Rakell kept an eye on Koivunen during training camp, and the two young players have brought some new life to the locker room.
Koivunen grinned following Saturday's practice, looking forward to playing his first game with his parents and girlfriend watching the game in Pittsburgh. McGroarty, meanwhile, was unable to contain himself about how comfortable he felt.
New coach Mike Sullivan is not waiting to insert them into starring roles. Veterans Bryan Rust and Rakell are in, and Crosby, grinning all morning, stayed late on the ice with them.
The Penguins aren't going to make the playoffs this year, and the rebuild is just getting underway, but these kids provide a glimpse of what is to come.
| POLL | ||
MARS 30 | 149 ANSWERS Rickard Rakell Issues Bold Response After Losing Spot to Rising Prospects Will the Penguins be a better team with their top prospects on the top two lines? | ||
| yes | 122 | 81.9 % |
| No | 27 | 18.1 % |
| List of polls | ||