There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With more talent in the system than they've had in recent memory, the Penguins have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. We will take a look at how some of the organization's top forward prospects are faring right now in our March prospects update.
Rutger McGroarty
As we detailed in our February forward prospects update, McGroarty - after a brief NHL stint at the beginning of the season and a slow start to his AHL season - has finally seen his process meet expectations for production.
And that has continued in the month of March.
In 11 March games, McGroarty has five goals and nine points, picking up right where he left off in February. He does only have one point in his last four games, but the team - and his line - continues to roll.
Overall, McGroarty has 14 goals and 39 points in 59 games on the season. His second half should serve the WBS Penguins well as they vye for their first Calder Cup in franchise history, and his all-around game - adding in the production - is pretty much NHL-ready at this point.
Avery Hayes
Hayes - part of that line with McGroarty and Vasily Ponomarev - has been one of WBS's best players this season. He has 19 goals and 37 points in 49 games, and his play earned him an entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that he signed on Mar. 13.
The undrafted forward has worked hard to find success in professional hockey, as his unconventional path required some extra steps and injuries led to some inconsistency in 2023-24. But, all of a sudden, the 22-year-old right winger has solidified a relatively consistent placement on a line with McGroarty and Ponomarev, arguably the two most NHL-ready prospects in the Penguins' system.
Given that the line has largely been together since the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo last summer, it's certainly working in Hayes's favor that he's developed chemistry with those two players in particular.
He has four goals and seven points in the month of March.
Ville Koivunen
Like McGroarty, Koivunen has slowed down a bit in his most recent set of games, having just two points over the last 7. He has four goals and eight points in the month of March.
However, his 20 goals and 54 points in 61 games is tied for seventh overall in AHL scoring and is tied for first among rookies in scoring. He is also tied for third in goals among rookies.
Although he is still working on rounding out some of the details of his game, Koivunen's development this season has been nothing short of spectacular. He has adjusted well to the pro game so far, and he should see some significant NHL ice time in 2025-26.
He is also chasing WBS's franchise record for points as a rookie, which is currently held by Toby Peterson (2000-01) at 67 points. There are 11 games remaining, so it's a longshot - but never say never.
Tristan Broz
Broz was out for a good while due to mononucleosis to begin the calendar year, returning on Feb. 7 and picking up right where he left off prior to his absence.
However, he has been a bit slow production-wise in the month of March. Broz has just two goals and four points in 11 March games, one point in his last seven games, and five points in his last 15 games.
That being said, he has continued to develop his two-way game and his positional versatility. There has been a bit of a rotation as far as the team's centers and their placement in the lineup, as Broz has spent time as both first- and second-line center, and even some time on the wing.
Most of the time, he centers a line with Koivunen and Valtteri Puustinen. Puustinen has five goals and 11 points in March.
Vasily Ponomarev
After nearly getting to the point-per-game mark about a month ago, Ponomarev has gone cold production-wise. He has no points in his last six games and just two goals and four points in his last 14.
However, don't mistake this for Ponomarev playing poorly. He is still driving a decent amount of offense and playing responsibly on both sides of the puck. Like McGroarty was earlier this season, he is a bit snakebitten right now, but he's also been a bit more passive in terms of his own opportunities.
The production will come for Ponomarev as long as he keeps playing strong all-zones hockey. He has a commitment to details that is advanced beyond most of his peers in WBS, and getting that monkey off his back will hopefully help him get his confidence back, too.
Tanner Howe
Howe began the season with the WHL's Regina Pats - as their captain - and was traded midseason to the Calgary Hitmen.
And wherever he's been this season, he hasn't missed a beat.
In a regular season that has included skating for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship at the turn of the New Year, Howe had 18 goals and 46 points in 47 games between both teams. He will also be doing his best to lead Calgary to a CHL championship in their upcoming playoff run.
The 19-year-old power forward - a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Penguins in 2024 - is developing a solid two-way game and certainly doesn't shy away from physicality. In fact, he uses phsyicality to gain positioning on opponents, which makes him a menace on the forecheck.
If his development continues on its current path, he could, conceivably, become an effective middle-six winger at the NHL level. He will presumably be playing in WBS next season, as his junior eligibility will be up.
Melvin Fernstrom
Fernstrom, 19, was acquired by the Penguins from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the Marcus Pettersson trade on Jan. 31. The right winger from Balsta, Sweden was a third-round pick (93rd overall) by Vancouver in 2024, and he was advertised as a raw prospect with a high ceiling.
His first full season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Orebro HK has been a bit of a mixed bag, as he has registered eight goals and 17 points in 48 games. But he's also playing against much more experienced players, and his showing for the J20 Nationell - against junior-level players - resulted in 11 goals and 18 points in 12 games.
Last season, Fernstrom's 31 goals led the J20 league.
There is still some growth that has to happen for Fernstrom, but there is some promise there. And Penguins' management is pretty high on this guy. There is a good chance he plays in North American next season.
Mikhail Ilyin
Ilyin, 20, is currently playing for the Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL, and he is making progress in his third season with the team. He saw games in the KHL as an 18-year-old, and he has also been seeing top-line minutes since then.
The right winger has seven goals and 30 points in 64 games this year, and his contract with Severstal expires at the end of the season. A 2023 fifth-round pick (142nd overall) by the Penguins, there is a chance he could join the organization in North America next season.
Ilyin will have to develop his skating a bit more - as well as his level of production - if he is going to be a regular at the NHL level at some point. But his playmaking smarts, passing ability, and the details in his game fill a lot of the gaps that the other deficiencies in his game leave.
Ilyin is certainly a work in progress, but he is definitely making strides. If his game can translate to the North American game, he may be a pleasant fifth-round surprise for the Penguins.
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