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Sydney Crosby Puts Top Prospect Under His Wing During Penguins' Intense Practice
Photo credit: The New York Times
Sidney Crosby is always all business, and that was once again the case as he was seen performing high-energy drills with top prospect Rutger McGroarty.
Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, both of whom were brought back on Friday by the Pittsburgh Penguins from their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre, filled critical roles with the NHL team in Saturday's practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
It appears that McGroarty could start the next game on the Penguins' top line
McGroarty, who was brought in from Winnipeg in 2024, held the left wing position on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.
Koivunen, who was acquired by the Penguins in last year's deal for Jake Guentzel from Carolina, was on the second line alongside Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar.
Both McGroarty and Koivunen also skated on the power play. Koivunen skated on Crosby's top unit, with Rust, Rakell, and Matt Grzelcyk.
McGroarty suited up on the second unit alongside Philip Tomasino, Kevin Hayes, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson.
Earlier this season, McGroarty was shut out in three games in the NHL but has 14 goals and 25 assists in 60 games at Wilkes-Barre.
Koivunen, also waiting for his first game in the NHL, has 21 goals and 34 assists in 62 games with the AHL.
The Penguins do not play Saturday, as they await the arrival of the Ottawa Senators for a 5 PM EST game on Sunday. While the Penguins have virtually no chance at the playoffs anymore, the Senators sit comfortably in the first wild-card spot.
| POLL | ||
MARS 29 | 124 ANSWERS Sydney Crosby Puts Top Prospect Under His Wing During Penguins' Intense Practice Will Rutger McGroarty play well in the final stretch of the NHL season? | ||
| Yes | 114 | 91.9 % |
| No | 10 | 8.1 % |
| List of polls | ||