Penguins Demote McGroarty

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent rookie winger Rutger McGroarty to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL Wednesday afternoon, according to a team release on X.

McGroarty was a healthy scratch Monday when the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 at Centre Bell. He played the first three games of the season, primarily on the third line with Lars Eller. In the game prior, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan scratched Jesse Puljujarvi Thursday in Detroit but reinserted him Saturday to impactful results.

Eller had a pair of goals, including one set up by Puljujarvi.

The Penguins acquired McGroarty, 20, in August from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for their 2023 first-round pick (14th overall) Brayden Yager. McGroarty was pointless in three games.