We will start with Blomqvist, who was sent down 10 days ago. “He’s handled it great,” MacDonald said. “He shows up every day with a smile on his face and works really hard, competes hard. He’s on the ice early every day with [goalie coach Kain Tisi], getting the extra goalie work in. The effort and the attitude have been awesome. I have no doubt he is just going to continue to improve.”
Pickering, now 20, carried a heavy burden for his junior club. He is learning less can be more in the pros. “Sometimes in junior, [top prospects] play so many minutes that it’s hard to have to good habits,” MacDonald said. “But [Pickering] has done an outstanding job defending and moving the puck north, just simplifying his game to have success. He bought into what our staff has been selling, and he’s been rewarded for it.” MacDonald mentioned there was criticism of Pickering’s limited production in the AHL. He had one goal with no assists in a dozen games before he was called up. “Some people have told me Pick doesn’t put up a ton of points,” the coach said with a chuckle. “Does that matter? That tells me that you’re not watching the games.”
MacDonald also said he’s unconcerned about a lack of production from McGroarty, Pittsburgh’s top forward prospect. “The numbers are a little deceiving. There was a stretch of games where he had a ton of Grade-A chances and they just didn’t go in,” MacDonald said. “But Rutger’s been doing a great job in areas that might be harder sometimes for young guys.” Those areas, he said, are defending at 5-on-5, killing penalties and helping his team close out wins in the final minute of games. Those are qualities that should enable McGroarty to get a call back to Pittsburgh and possibly carve out a regular role. “It had been a bit of whirlwind for him, but he has been able to settle in with us,” MacDonald said. “You are starting to see a lot of the growth and improvement.”
Broz has a team-high seven goals. To prime him for a promotion, MacDonald is working with him on the nuances of center, like faceoffs and defensive-zone duties. He is one of a few exciting young players helping Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stay hot, and in turn they have earned more responsibility. That’s exactly what you want.
Koivunen, perhaps the best prospect acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade, is second on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 11 points. The 21-year-old has to get stronger and become more of a 200-foot player. But MacDonald raved about his hockey IQ.“Arguably the smartest offensive player we’ve got,” MacDonald said. “He has done a great job, just the way he can create at 5-on-5 and on the power play. He makes plays and finds guys for scoring chances, and you’re like, ‘How’d that happen?’”
3 comments
Kind of cool to hear a coach speak about player’s specific strengths and needs instead of Sully rambling about “our game”.
It’s almost like we have a guy in the system who wants to develop our younger players and not worry about hurting the feelings of HoF defensemen who mail it in 9/10 games.
yall. maybe a little unrelated but i wanted to share.
i’m just a brazilian girl who doesn’t even know how to skate sailing the high seas to watch the kids play and trying to form coherent opinions about what im watching in a stream with like five pixels.
with the pens there are a ton of pundits who know the game a million times better than i do helping me understand it. with the baby pens it’s mostly just me and a dream lol so reading the head coach voice what i’ve been thinking and saying here has me a bit giddy 🙂
that’s all. hope you guys enjoy the article too, it’s nice having positive things to think about regarding the team.
Love that some Pens prospects are thriving. Reality is that in a couple of years they’ll likely just be trade pieces themselves. They just wont fit a rebuild timeline.