Pittsburgh Penguins' top prospect Rutger McGroarty can't stop scoring goals for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins.
In Wednesday's tilt against the Hershey Bears - AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals - McGroarty registered his third goal in as many AHL games this season, continuing his seamless, dominant transition back to game action.
And none of McGroarty's three goals have been cheap ones, either.
The 21-year-old forward - acquired in the summer of 2024 from the Winnipeg Jets - missed all of training camp and the first month and a half of the regular season due to an upper-body injury. He made his return to the AHL lineup on Nov. 15 against the Springfield Thunderbirds, powering his way to the net on his first shift of the second period for his first of the season.
WELCOME BACK RUTGER pic.twitter.com/2d3C3eUsk3
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 16, 2025
Rutger McGroarty Shines In Return As WBS Penguins Complete Weekend SweepSaturday marked the return for one of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top forward prospects.
Then, in Saturday's 1-0 WBS win over the Providence Bruins, McGroarty scored the lone goal shorthanded - going end-to-end, weaving around a few defenders, and earning himself a breakway opportunity that he put home.
MCGROARTY SHORTY 🚨
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 23, 2025
For every shorthanded goal we score, Borland and Borland will donate $250 to the Penguins GOALS foundation. This is shorty #3 on the year! pic.twitter.com/TNDBeOvRCu
And that brings us to Wednesday's game. In this one, McGroarty gained the offensive zone, got to a loose puck above the right circle courtesy of a little help from Philip Tomasino, and sniped one past Bears' goaltender Garin Bjorklund to put his team up, 2-0.
3 games played, 3 goals scored for Rutger McGroarty! pic.twitter.com/CZSM8PXkFk
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 27, 2025
The Penguins and GM/POHO Kyle Dubas have reiterated that because McGroarty is an important piece for their future, they need to do what's right for his development and follow a return-to-play plan for him. He had a planned scratch for last Friday's game and played the next day against Providence.
But, if McGroarty continues to dominate at the AHL level and show he is ready - he has four points in three games - it's possible that the the NHL club may see him sooner than initially anticipated.
Penguins Activate Two Players From IR, Option Murashov To AHLAhead of their Thanksgiving Eve tilt against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/">Buffalo Sabres</a>, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made a few roster moves that signify they're surely but slowly getting healthier.
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