Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Rutger McGroarty shares emotional reflections ahead of Penguins season debut after long injury comeback
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty explained that he's grateful and happy to be back playing hockey again after an extended injury absence.
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty, who made his NHL debut last year in Pittsburgh, was a strong contender to make the Penguins' opening night roster had it not been for an injury that's kept him out of action for the last two months.
But he's back healthy again, and has been called up by the Penguins and will soon make his debut for 2025-26.
Naturally, he's very excited to be back on the ice again, and praised the group as a whole.
Very excited. Honestly, I'm just grateful to be playing hockey again. That's the sport that we all know and love. And at the end of the day, I'm just super happy to be back playing hockey.
You've gotta grow where you're planted. I feel like wherever you are, you just have to find a way to grow. And it's super easy there. I mean, the development team that they have, the players there, the coaches there. Everybody is so dialed in and wants to get better. So I feel like it's it's such a great group.
You've gotta grow where you're planted. I feel like wherever you are, you just have to find a way to grow. And it's super easy there. I mean, the development team that they have, the players there, the coaches there. Everybody is so dialed in and wants to get better. So I feel like it's it's such a great group.
He has seven points (4G, 3A) in the five games he played with the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before being recalled to Pittsburgh.
Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse Is Impressed With Rutger McGroarty
Penguins head coach Dan Muse, who is in his first season behind the bench since being hired from his previous role as an assistant with the New York Rangers, has liked what he's seen of McGroarty.
He built his game there in Wilkes, and finished the year (in Pittsburgh) and was playing really well. You know, I've gone back and watched some of those games, and then unfortunately, he misses training camp, but he really put in the work there. You know, just (putting in) the time. And he was coming back for his return to play; he did a great job there in terms of just preparing himself for those games. In Wilkes, he's played really well. So yeah, he earned an opportunity back.
McGroarty was taken by the Penguins with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and had three points (1G, 2A) in the eight games he played with Pittsburgh.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 1 | 52 ANSWERS Rutger McGroarty shares emotional reflections ahead of Penguins season debut after long injury comeback Will Rutger McGroarty keep his spot with the Penguins for the rest of the year? | ||
| Yes | 44 | 84.6 % |
| No | 8 | 15.4 % |
| List of polls | ||