Penguins Injury Update: McGroarty Cleared for Contact, St. Ivany Seeks More from Himself
CRANBERRY, Pa. - There’s good news coming out of Penguins camp ahead of Saturday night’s matchup: rookie winger Rutger McGroarty is back in a full-contact jersey. That’s a major step in his recovery from the concussion he suffered back on Jan. 3 against the Red Wings.
McGroarty, 21, had been skating with the team since Wednesday, but Saturday marked his first full-contact session. It’s the kind of progression you want to see from a player working his way back from a head injury - cautious but steady.
While he won’t be in the lineup Saturday night, McGroarty stayed on the ice after the morning skate with the other healthy scratches, including veteran forward Kevin Hayes. The Penguins are scheduled to practice again on Sunday, so we’ll keep an eye on whether McGroarty pushes closer to a return.
Through 16 NHL games this season, McGroarty’s numbers - two goals and an assist - don’t jump off the page, but this is a young forward still finding his footing. His game has shown flashes of the skill and energy that made him a first-round pick, and getting him back into the lineup could give Pittsburgh’s bottom six a much-needed jolt.
St. Ivany: “Mediocre?” Maybe, But the Numbers Say Otherwise
On the blue line, Jack St. Ivany is holding himself to a high standard - maybe too high.
With Erik Karlsson sidelined for at least a couple of weeks due to a lower-body injury, the Penguins have leaned on their depth, and St. Ivany has stepped into a bigger role.
He’s been skating on the second pair alongside Parker Wotherspoon, and while the duo hasn’t made headlines, they’ve been quietly effective.
Still, St. Ivany wasn’t exactly glowing in his self-assessment.
“I feel like the last couple of games haven’t been a coach’s dream,” he said. “But last game, we got the job done, which is what is asked at the end of the day.”
That last game was a 6-3 win over the Flyers, coming just two nights after a tight 2-1 shootout loss to a surging Tampa Bay team. In both contests, St.
Ivany was steady - logging nearly 20 minutes against Philly and over 16 against Tampa, finishing plus-1 and even, respectively. No glaring mistakes, no goals against pinned to his name.
So what’s he looking to improve?
“Execute a little better. Be a little quicker with the puck,” he said.
“Playing with Parker gives me more opportunities to get out there. Those guys move so fast.
Got to be a little quicker.”
That kind of self-awareness is what you want from a young defenseman trying to carve out a consistent role. At 6-foot-3, St.
Ivany brings a physical presence, but he’s clearly focused on refining the details - puck movement, decision-making, transition speed. And in today’s NHL, where pace and precision are everything, that mindset is a must.
The Penguins’ defense pairs remained unchanged at Saturday’s skate, so St. Ivany will get another shot to prove himself in a top-four role. And if he keeps playing the way he has - even if he calls it “mediocre” - he may just stick there longer than expected.