Rickard Rakell is familiar with what Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty are about to encounter.
Once upon a time, Rakell was a prized prospect about to burst into the NHL, much like Koivunen and McGroarty are at the present.
And Rakell, a first-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, experienced the blend of excitement, energy, pressure as well as uncertainty that Koivunen and McGroarty are likely feeling at the moment.
The veteran Penguins forward has some simple advice for his rookie teammates.
“A lot of people are going to tell you to keep it simple and just work hard,” said Rakell, the Penguins’ leader with 32 goals. “But if you’re not doing your thing, you’re doing a lot of things other people are already doing. If you’re good at taking guys on one-on-one, you should do the same here as in the (American Hockey League).
“I’m all for it.”
After being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, it appeared Saturday that Koivunen and McGroarty will get a chance to show off their intriguing skill sets through some prominent assignments.
During practice in Cranberry, McGroarty skated on the left wing of the top line with Sidney Crosby at center and Bryan Rust on the right wing. As for Koivunen, he had to settle for the right wing of the second line with Rakell at center and Conor Dewar on the left wing.
“I feel like those are two guys (Crosby and Rust) I’ve grown up watching,” said McGroarty, who skated in a bottom-six role with the NHL club in three games during October. “Some role models in the game, for sure. So, it was really fun for me. But I tried to just go out there and play my game and do what I can do and complement them.”
Koivunen worked on a line with Rakell during training camp in September.
“He was a really fast player,” Rakell said. “He can do it all. A good shot, a good passer. We’ve just got to make sure he keeps doing those things.
“I’m going to try to do my best to have him play his game so he can keep working on it, stay confident, do his thing.”
The need to recall two of the organization’s top prospects at this late stage of a seemingly lost season is multi-fold.
First, the Penguins are dealing with several injuries to their incumbent forwards. Franchise pillar Evgeni Malkin has missed the past two games with an undisclosed ailment while projected third-line center Tommy Novak continues to rehabilitate from an unspecified malady that has cost him the past eight contests. Additionally, Boko Imama’s season came to an end following surgery to correct a biceps injury that will need four to six months to rehabilitate.
Second, they’ve each been big reasons the playoff-bound Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have been successful this season and their play merited the promotions.
“They’ve been pretty impactful, and they’ve played extremely well, and are deserving of this opportunity,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “As an organization, we feel it’s important to reward guys for effort and performance, and these two guys are very deserving. So, it’s exciting for us. They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I think it’ll be great for our group.”
That group largely includes several members with a little bit of gray in their facial hair. In contrast, Koivunen and McGroarty probably aren’t investing much of their entry-level contracts into shaving cream.
“It’s the NHL,” said McGroarty, who turns 21 on Sunday. “It’s every kid’s dream. … It’s exciting. So, it’s really exciting. It’s a good birthday present. .., But I’m super excited for this opportunity.”
McGroarty already has enjoyed the opportunity of playing in a handful of NHL games. Meanwhile, Koivunen could make his NHL debut in Sunday’s home contest against the Ottawa Senators.
“Of course, it’s exciting,” Koivunen said. “It’s going to be a cool day, if that happens. Yeah, I think just wait for that and hope that’s going to happen.”
Hopes for the Penguins to reach the upcoming playoffs are thinner than construction paper as the calendar is about to turn to April. But the combined presence of two players who are expected to contribute significantly to the construction of the Penguins’ return to being a contender offers a badly needed injection of optimism for a club that has given up a combined 13 goals in its past two games.
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“Anytime we get some young guys up here, especially ones who obviously have been doing so well and who are kind of fresh to the organization, I think it’s fun,” Rust said. “It’s fun to see what they’ve got. They obviously went out there, they worked really hard. You could tell both of them are really, really good players. I’m excited to see what they could do.”
That excitement is seemingly universal for the veterans on this team, especially those who have met high expectations as newcomers similar to those foisted up Koivunen and McGroarty.
“Make the most of the opportunity,” Crosby advised. “Have fun with it. The game’s the same, maybe a little bit faster. The guys are a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, maybe. But for the most part, it’s the same game. Just trust your instincts and continue to learn with each and every game, practice.
“Just rely on your instincts as best as you can.”
Notes: Malkin and injured defenseman P.O Joseph each worked out on the ice before practice. … Novak rehabilitated off the ice.