Breaking: Bad News for McGroarty, Other Penguins Injuries

Now we know why the Pittsburgh Penguins recalled three forwards from the AHL on Thursday. Five other forwards are out for the season — keeping in mind that there are only three games left.

Rookie Rutger McGroarty, Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte, Matt Nieto and Tommy Novak won’t play in the final week of the season because of injuries, coach Mike Sullivan said after the team practiced at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. None of the five practiced Thursday. The Penguins have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Sullivan said there was no indication at this point that any of them will require surgery.

Perhaps the biggest news is that McGroarty will be out for an unknown period of time. He left Tuesday’s game against Chicago after blocking a shot with his left foot.

The balancing news is that McGroarty might still play this season. AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs, and playing in that postseason atmosphere certainly could help McGroarty, who is arguably the team’s top prospect. He played in eight NHL games split between early in the season and recently, with a goal and two assists.

Of course, playing in even three more NHL games might have helped his development.

“It’s disappointing because he was playing real well, and we thought it was a great experience for him to get NHL games,” Sullivan said of McGroarty. “We’re hopeful that Rutger’s injury will come around. We’re hopeful that Wilkes-Barre will play long enough that he has an opportunity to help them continue to have success down there. That’s an important experience for as well.”