Penguins rookies Joel Blomqvist, Rutger McGroarty activated, assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Two of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top prospects, rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist and forward Rutger McGroarty, were activated from the team’s injured non-roster list and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Saturday.

Both players entered the regular season with undisclosed ailments.

Blomqvist appeared in the team’s preseason opener, a 2-1 road shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 22, and stopped all 11 shots he faced in that contest over 30:05 of ice time. Two days later, he did not participate in a scheduled practice session due to an unspecified injury and was labeled as day-to-day.

By Sept. 26, the team announced he would be sidelined a minimum of four weeks.

The 23-year-old Blomqvist is entering his third full professional season on this continent. A native of Finland, the left-catching Blomqvist made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 15 games. He posted a 4-9-1 record, a 3.81 goals against average and an .885 save percentage.

A different unspecified malady derailed much of his play in the AHL during the 2024-25 season. In 18 AHL games, he had an 8-7-4 record, a 2.84 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

In 2023-24, Blomqvist was an All-Star at the AHL level. Playing in 46 games that season, he had a 25-12-6 record, a 2.16 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and one shutout.

The Penguins selected Blomqvist in the second round (No. 52 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.

As for McGroarty, the circumstances of his ailment were far murkier.

He was injured at an unspecified point in the offseason and was sidelined for all of training camp. In fact, he was unable to participate in the team’s entry for the Prospect Challenge showcase event hosted by the Buffalo Sabres in mid-September.

Aside from a handful of skating sessions with other injured players, the 21-year-old McGroarty has rarely been seen on the ice this season.

McGroarty made his professional debut last season. In eight NHL games, he scored three points (one goal, two assists) while averaging 14:37 of ice time per contest. A suspected left foot injury sidelined him for the final three games of the season.

Primarily stationed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, McGroarty skated in 60 games and scored 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) with that club.

McGroarty, a left-handed shot, was a first-round draft pick (No. 14 overall) of the Winnipeg Jets. After an impasse in contract talks with the Jets, he was traded to the Penguins during the 2024 offseason.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins host the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday.