Penguins Recall McGroarty, Send Hayes and Koppanen to AHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins used Saturday's roster shuffle to solve two problems at once, recalling 21-year-old forward Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while sending Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen to the AHL in the same transaction.

The trigger was direct: Bryan Rust is serving a three-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety after elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser, and defenseman Jack St. Ivany was placed on injured reserve following surgery on his left hand, leaving him sidelined for eight weeks. Two roster spots opened; Pittsburgh filled one with its hottest forward in the minors.

McGroarty had been sharp during his most recent WBS stint, posting four goals and eight assists for 12 points in nine games. His NHL totals this season are more measured, two goals and three assists across 20 games in two previous stints with Pittsburgh, averaging just under 12 minutes per night, but the offensive surge in the minors signals a player who has settled into his game after an up-and-down first professional season.

Whether McGroarty lands in a bottom-six checking role or gets pushed up the lineup against softer matchups will depend on how quickly Pittsburgh's injury situation clarifies. Coaching staff will be tracking his zone entries, puck possession, and willingness to absorb contact as metrics for how this call-up compares to his earlier ones.

For Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hayes' return works out. His scoring presence stays on the AHL roster during a stretch where playoff positioning matters, and his eligibility for the postseason roster is preserved. Koppanen's reassignment gives the Baby Pens added forward depth for the same push. With the Penguins firmly in the NHL playoff conversation, McGroarty arrives knowing this is the kind of late-March window that can define a young player's standing heading into the offseason.