Who Will Be the Penguins’ Top Rookie?

If I’m reading the tea leaves correctly (not always a given), this should be the season when the Penguins’ youth movement kicks off in earnest. It begs the question, “Who will be the team’s top rookie?”

At first blush, it appears to be a two-horse match race between forwards Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty. Defenseman Owen Pickering, who also figures to log plenty of work with the big boys, skated in 25 games for the black-and-gold a season ago, effectively eliminating him from rookie status.

While promising rearguard Harrison Brunicke and kid forwards Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes could insert themselves into the mix, there doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut path at the present for any or all to earn significant ice time.

Goalie Joel Blomqvist could possibly merit consideration as well, although he’d likely have to beat out summertime acquisition Arturs Silovs for a spot on the team to do so. Hardly a given at this juncture.

Silovs, still technically a rookie, could be in the running as well.

However, barring any unforeseen trades, I think it will boil down to a two-man competition between Koivunen and McGroarty.

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