Penguins’ Rutger McGroarty leaves game with lower-body injury

Pittsburgh Penguins right winger Rutger McGroarty suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday versus the Chicago Blackhawks that forced him to leave the game.

The injury occurred late in the second period. McGroarty did not return for the final frame and was later ruled out by the Penguins.

This season, McGroarty has split time between the Penguins and the AHL affiliated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. With the NHL club, McGroarty has made seven appearances in which he has recorded three points highlighted by his first career goal coming last Thursday against the St. Louis Blues and goaltender Joel Hofer. Meanwhile, with the farm club, McGroarty has tallied 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points through 60 appearances this season.

Originally chosen 14th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 NHL Draft, McGroarty was moved to the Penguins last August in exchange for forward prospect Brayden Yager. The same day, McGroarty agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins.

Prior to turning pro, McGroarty spent two seasons with the NCAA’s Michigan Wolverines from 2022-24 where through 75 career contests he racked up 34 goals and 57 assists for 91 points. As a sophomore, McGroarty was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the top college hockey player, after he finished second in team scoring with 52 points counting 16 goals and 36 assists coming in 36 games.

A 21-year-old native of Lincoln, Neb., McGroarty has also seen success in international competition, most recently with Team USA at the 2024 World Juniors where through seven games he put up five goals and four assists for nine points to captain the squad to a gold medal victory. McGroarty also took home a bronze medal at the 2023 World Juniors as well as a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship.