Bright Lights: Future Is Bright For Pittsburgh
It’s no secret that this season has been dismal for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Taking a look at the farm system, there is a plethora of talent coming up through the ranks that could prove to be beneficial for a Penguins team in the future.
AHL:
Rutger McGroarty:
McGroarty has played in 59 games thus far in the 2024-2025 season. He has tallied 14 goals with 25 assists and has certainly shown why he has been the most looked at prospect for Pittsburgh this season. McGroarty was traded from the Winnipeg Jets in August of 2024 to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager. McGroarty started the season in Pittsburgh where he dressed in three games and was eventually sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to further develop his game.
McGroarty is a deceptive and precise playmaker. He can identify the best play and occupies his space in order to enlarge the chance of getting the puck back in his possession. His skating has greatly improved under skating coach Jeff Murray, and who McGroarty gives a great deal of credit towards:
“I feel like it's been incredible. I think just my overall game, PK, being on the ice with one minute left, being on the powerplay, I feel like my skating as well, everything has improved so much. I feel like the production will come but I feel like I'm getting those opportunities and that production will come. Overall, I've been working really hard with Connor [Keenan- Strength and Conditioning Coach] and Jeff Murray [Skating Coach]. I feel like the development group here is spectacular. I think it's the best in any organization. I feel like this development group is really, really awesome and I've bought into what they're saying.”
Ville Koivunen:
Koivunen was part of a trade package in March of 2024 that brought him to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and sent Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith to the Carolina Hurricanes. Part of the trade included Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Michael Bunting, and two picks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Koivunen has proved that the trade was worth the bells and whistles.
During his rookie season, Koivunen has dressed in 61 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and has tallied 20 goals and 34 assists thus far. He participated in two post season games last season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he posted one goal and one assist. Koivunen is currently eighth in the entire AHL with 54 points, tied with Rochester Americans Isak Rosen and Texas Stars Justin Hryckowian. He is also tied with Hryckowian for first place in the AHL rookies with points, but Koivunen is in third overall in the AHL for goals scored.
Koivunen is that relentless player that is needed on teams. He is very much in the attack mindset and always wants to make something happen during every shift played.
Owen Pickering:
Pickering comes with a mischievous style of play. He tends to misdirect the opponent and find a teammate further up on the ice. Pickering is more of a “Join The Rush” type of defenseman, rarely does he hang in the back. Pickering’s puck handling is also one of his strongest skills. Pickering’s physicality is also something that stands out:
“I think for me, it's just a balance. You want to play physical, and I wanna use my frame. I also have to take advantage of my reach and take away passing ones, you don't want to be running around. Not even so much like running guys to kill them, but just making sure you're playing under control. Knowing when to have one hand stick, when to have two ends on your stick. I think the physical presence is pretty big and that's something that I'm trying to work on. Just knowing when to play physical, when to hold out on the reach a little bit. You can’t really go wrong if you choose the physical option most of the time.”
Pickering had a flash at the NHL this season with Pittsburgh, playing in 25 games and even tallied one goal with two assists. He was sent back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and has been proven to be an asset during the push for the playoffs run. He has dressed in a total of 38 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and has two goals and seven assists. Pickering was drafted by Pittsburgh in Round One of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 21st overall.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Head Coach Kirk MacDonald stated about Pickering, McGroarty, and Koivunen:
“They have gotten better, they are young guys. They each bring different elements of the game to their game. They have all gotten a lot stronger. They were huge parts of the team all year and you can see them getting better and better every game, crunch time and they are on the ice for the most important moments for us and for good reason.”
ECHL:
Mathieu De. St Phalle:
De St. Phalle, nicknamed “DSP”, was brought into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season on April 1st on a two-year AHL contract. The Illinois native has been with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL most of the season, with one call up recently to the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He has dressed in 56 games for Wheeling and has tallied a total of 19 goals with 31 assists. During his call-up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he dressed in three games with no points tallied.
Coming fresh out of the University of Wisconsin, he dressed in 141 games as a Badger and totaled 36 goals with 51 assists. De St. Phalle makes very quick decisions during his shifts and tends to always have the puck on his stick.
Gabe Klassen:
Klassen is coming to the Pittsburgh organization straight out of the WHL where he played for the Portland Winterhawks for 248 games. During that span of games, Klassen tallied 118 goals and 147 assists. Klassen was signed to an AHL contract in June of 2024. He recently played in two games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but no points were tallied during the two games.
Klassen has spent a majority of his year in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers. He has dressed in 59 games for his rookie season thus far and has tallied 14 goals with 22 assists. Klassen possesses a strong shooting ability when on the ice and can help the team against the opponent by reading the passing lanes and is supportive to his linemates during his time on the ice.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Head Coach Kirk MacDonald stated about De St. Phalle and Klassen:
“Young guys that work hard. I think DSP skates really well, Klass is more of a cerebral player. I think that the two guys that are just starting their journey, they probably would admit they would like more opportunities this year but we have a deep lineup. I know they have played really well down in Wheeling. I think every guy is gonna get their chance and to make sure that opportunity comes for them.”
While the season has been less than favorable for the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, the farm system has been pelted with talent both in the AHL and ECHL. It’s going to be an exciting and bright future ahead for the Penguins.
-Sam Wismer/ Olde City Sports Network
-Photo Credits: Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins & Wheeling Nailers