Penguins Blog: Where is Rutger? Scoring Help Needed, 4 Options

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Pittsburgh Penguins scored seven goals on their three-game road trip. They didn’t get bounces in Detroit, they fought the best team in the NHL in Florida, and they were mostly overwhelmed (as usual) in Carolina.

Three games. Seven goals.

A three-game slump wouldn’t be anything to cause catastrophic or great concern, except the lack of scoring was entirely emblematic of the presented roster.

Despite exemplary and nearly astounding advanced stats, Cody Glass has one goal in 28 games. Philip Tomasino is out week-to-week, but after a post-trade surge, he, too, has only one goal in his last 11 games. Anthony Beauvillier has two goals in his last 14 games. Drew O’Connor broke a 32-game goalless streak with a pair of markers in Detroit, but the big forward remains out of sorts in his UFA season.

The lack of production from the group of players from whom coach Mike Sullivan must cobble together a middle six isn’t a slump; those numbers are just about par with expectations from bargain acquisitions. To expect anything more would be foolish, if not eminently delusional.

Yet the Penguins badly need a bit more offense. That much was clear as the Sidney Crosby line, stacked with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, danced around defenders, worked the walls, and pressured Carolina, only to see the other lines produce comparatively little.

Kevin Hayes was particularly good, but to expect that sort of effort consistently would be like finding a golden nugget beneath the pillowcase where a lost tooth once lay. Hayes was a healthy scratch, or “extra” as they call them in Carolina, for most of December after lackluster play in the first two months followed lackluster play most of last season with the St. Louis Blues, who included second and third-round picks to facilitate his trade to the Penguins.

Fortunately, the Penguins may well have options.

And, no, one of those options is not named Jesse Puljujarvi–though he may get another chance with the club after clearing waivers last week.

Despite Puljujarvi’s recent ascension within the fanbase to poster boy status for Sullivan’s animous toward players under 40, a social media movement that has included everything just shy of beating their breasts and wailing, Puljujarvi had three goals in 21 games despite some top-six duty and consistent third-line play.

Sullivan can continue to mix and match players, hoping to find enough hot hands to squeeze just enough success from the group, or Dubas needs to act.

Fortunately, the Penguins might well have some internal options that could at least equal the production of the current group.

In fact, the Penguins have a trio of internal options who are playing increasingly good hockey at the AHL level. Tomasino’s recent injury also opens the door for a Penguins call-up.

Penguins Roster Options

1. Where is Rutger?

Top prospect Rutger McGroarty, 20, has received praise from within the organization for his increased work in the weight room and his work on his skating. McGroarty broke camp with the team and played three games–though it was quickly obvious that he had work to do to be competitive at the NHL level.

McGroarty has hockey smarts and playmaking skills. He’s also a solid body who will be able to compete on the walls. After a slow start, McGroarty has increased his offensive output and has rallied for 14 points (5-9-14) in 27 games.

He had just one assist in his first eight games, which means he has 13 points in his last 19 games.

Read More: Scouting McGroarty; WBS Penguins; Guys Starting to Take it to Next Level (+)

2. National Champion

2021 second-round pick Tristan Broz, 22, is being groomed as a middle-six center. He’s got surprisingly good hands bordering on filthy, and the organization has been impressed with his growth. Broz is the top center with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and putting up healthy numbers. Broz has 12 goals and 19 points in 27 games.

He could quickly slot in as a left-winger or, perhaps, as a center, allowing Sullivan more choices for the wing. Broz is at his best in pressure situations, as evidenced by his pair of overtime goals in the NCAA tournament, which propelled the University of Denver to the 2024 National Championship.

3. Emil Bemstrom

No joke. Despite a disappointing run with the Penguins at the NHL level last season after being acquired for Alex Nylander (another fanbase poster boy for Sullivan’s mythical disgust for young players), Bemstrom is lighting up the AHL.

Better still, Bemstrom, 25, is scoring goals the right way. He’s letting good shots rip between the dots. He’s got NHL size at 6-foot, 193 pounds, and plenty of NHL experience (228 games).

Bemstrom had only five points, including three goals, in 24 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

If Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and AGM Jason Spezza want McGroarty and Broz to continue their growth without interruption, Bemstrom would be a legitimate option. He’s notched 28 points, including scoring 12 goals, in 27 games.

His skills were never in question–though his ability or willingness to apply them at the top level were.

4. Penguins trade

Don’t expect much, but a little help for a team battling its way into the playoff race isn’t an unreasonable ask, even if the future is more important than now.