Penguins' Rebuild in Motion: Rookies Struggle to Stick as Playoff Push Intensifies
The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t supposed to be here - not this quickly, not with this group. But with just 26 games left in the regular season, they’re holding down a playoff spot with more than an 85% chance to make the postseason. That’s not just overachieving - that’s flipping the script on what many expected to be a transitional year.
And yet, for all the surprising success, there’s a subplot that’s hard to ignore: the kids aren’t sticking.
Despite leading the NHL with 12 rookies suiting up this season, only two - Ben Kindel and Arturs Silovs - have carved out consistent roles. The rest? They’ve either been reassigned or faded into the background, unable to force their way into a lineup that’s been held together by a patchwork of under-the-radar contributors and overlooked veterans.
This is the reality of a rebuild. It’s not linear.
It’s not always pretty. And it rarely goes exactly as planned.
High Hopes, Hard Lessons
Let’s start with Ville Koivunen. The 22-year-old winger had the longest runway of the group, getting legitimate looks alongside Sidney Crosby and in other top-nine roles.
But the production didn’t match the opportunity. Five points in 27 games (2 goals, 3 assists) just wasn’t enough - especially when his game leaned too heavily on the perimeter and lacked the skating strength needed to make a nightly impact.
He’s now back in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, needing to reset.
Rutger McGroarty, 21, is another case of promise without payoff. He’s shown flashes - the kind of flashes that make you think it’s only a matter of time - but five points in 20 games (2-3-5) isn’t enough to force the coaching staff’s hand.
He’s created chances, no doubt, but too many have ended with a goalie’s glove save or a missed connection. Unless injuries open a door, he’s likely staying in the AHL after the Olympic break.
Then there’s Owen Pickering. The 2022 first-rounder didn’t assert himself in the preseason and didn’t do much to change the narrative in his brief four-game NHL stint. The Penguins gave Ryan Graves another shot instead, and Pickering heads back to the minors with more questions than answers about his readiness.
A Glimmer from the Grit
Not every story is stuck in neutral. Avery Hayes, the undrafted 23-year-old winger, made a loud statement in his lone game before the break - two goals, all hustle, and a relentless motor that turned heads across the organization. It was only one game, but it might have been enough to make him the next man up.
Head coach Dan Muse couldn’t hide his admiration when talking about Hayes. Sometimes, all it takes is one chance - and Hayes made the most of his.
Tristan Broz, also 23, got one game too. He played well enough, but hasn’t been back. It’s less about performance and more about the numbers game - he’s a center, and unless the Penguins need one, he’ll have to wait his turn.
The Bigger Picture
It’s fair to ask: is this a concern?
The Penguins’ transition plan was always going to rely on some of these prospects stepping into full-time NHL roles. That’s why GM Kyle Dubas signed short-term, low-cost veterans - to bridge the gap, not to carry the load. But with players like Justin Brazeau and Parker Wotherspoon outperforming expectations, the bridge is holding longer than expected.
Still, the long-term success of this rebuild hinges on more than just stopgaps. The pipeline is deep, and there’s no shortage of names worth watching.
Will Horcoff and Bill Zonnon, the Penguins’ 2025 first-rounders, are high-ceiling prospects with real NHL upside. Tanner Howe, a 2024 second-rounder, just made his pro debut after rehabbing from knee surgery. Defenseman Harrison Brunicke impressed during his nine-game NHL look but ultimately needed more seasoning - too good for junior hockey, not quite ready for the big stage.
And in net, Sergei Murashov, 21, continues to develop in the AHL. He’s not ready yet, but the organization still sees him as part of the future.
Don’t sleep on Mikhail Ilyin, either. The 20-year-old Russian forward - a 2023 fifth-round pick - is putting up strong numbers in the KHL with 35 points in 54 games. He’s not knocking on the NHL door just yet, but he’s definitely in the conversation.
So… Where Are We in the Rebuild?
That’s the million-dollar question. The Penguins are winning - and that’s great - but the long-term vision still depends on these prospects figuring it out. The team’s success this season has masked the fact that, outside of Kindel, no rookie has truly grabbed a spot and made it his own.
It’s not a crisis, but it’s something to watch. Development takes time, and not every prospect hits. But if the Penguins want to turn this transitional year into a sustainable new era, they’ll need more than just a few flashes and feel-good stories.
They’ll need some of these young players to stop knocking and start kicking down the door.