TAMPA, Fla. - The Penguins' Roster Shuffle and Caleb Jones' Season Setback
In a week of roster juggling, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have seen rookie forwards Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty bouncing between teams. Just ahead of their matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena, both players were re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, despite McGroarty having a full setup for the morning skate.
McGroarty, at 22, has seen limited NHL action since the Olympic break, clocking in 10:41 during a recent game against the Dallas Stars that ended in a 6-3 loss. Over the course of the season, McGroarty has suited up for 21 games, contributing two goals and three assists.
Koivunen, also 22, has experienced a similar back-and-forth journey, struggling with consistency. His last appearance was on March 28, and in his 36 games this season, he’s tallied seven points with two goals and five assists.
Caleb Jones' Unfortunate Turn
Defenseman Caleb Jones emerged as a bright spot during training camp, signing a two-year deal with the Penguins on July 1, at an average annual value of $900,000. Initially a regular on the defensive line, Jones recorded an assist in seven games before a lower-body injury sidelined him for months.
Just as he was set to return on February 4, Jones faced another setback. Testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance led to a 20-game suspension by the NHL. Jones attributed the result to contaminated substances from exosome therapy and chose not to appeal.
With his suspension recently concluded, Jones still won't return to the ice this season due to injury. Coach Dan Muse confirmed his absence for the remainder of the season, noting that a formal statement from the team is expected, though it hasn’t been released yet.
As the Penguins prepare to take on the Lightning, these roster dynamics add an intriguing layer to their season narrative.