The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forwards Boko Imama and Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Monday.<\/p>\n
These transactions were made in advance of a road contest against the rival Philadelphia Flyers on Monday evening.<\/p>\n
Imama has spent the entire regular season with Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton. After clearing waivers on Oct. 5, the 29-year-old was assigned to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton. In 19 AHL games this season, the left-handed Imama has scored four points (three goals, one assist) and accrued a team-leading 32 penalty minutes while largely operating on the left wing of the fourth line.<\/p>\n
During the NHL preseason, Imama played in three games and had no points and six shots, along with four penalty minutes.<\/p>\n
In early October, when it was apparent Imama would likely be assigned to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton, he suggested a simple approach for returning to the NHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever happens, that is not going to kill me,\u201d Imama said on Oct. 2 \u201cI\u2019m just going to keep on working. That has been my whole career anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarded as the toughest player in the organization, Imama (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) is signed to a one-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000.<\/p>\n
Last season, Imama established a career-high at the NHL level with 16 games and scored his first career goal during a 6-3 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 21.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh goal!<\/p>\n
Scored by Bokondji Imama with 11:45 remaining in the 2nd period.<\/p>\n
Assisted by Danton Heinen and Kevin Hayes.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh: 4 \u2014 NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Imama is no stranger to bellicose interactions with the Flyers. During a 5-4 home overtime win against the Flyers on Feb. 27, Imama injured Philadelphia forward Garnet Hathaway with a blindside hit that resulted in a minor penalty for interference.<\/p>\n Torts is furious after Boko Imama is assessed a minor for interference on Garnet Hathaway, and Hathaway needed assistance off the ice pic.twitter.com\/oXX10jvySl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 B\/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt certainly does help to have someone of Boko\u2019s caliber out there,\u201d forward Bryan Rust said in March<\/a>. \u201cYou feel a little bit more confident in physical situations.\u201d<\/p>\n McGroarty, 21, opened the season on the injured non-roster list due to an undisclosed ailment he suffered during the offseason. Activated from that designation on Nov. 15, McGroarty was assigned to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton on the same day.<\/p>\n Primarily deployed on the left wing of the top line, McGroarty has been productive, appearing in five AHL contests and scoring seven points (four goals, three assists).<\/p>\n WELCOME BACK RUTGER pic.twitter.com\/2d3C3eUsk3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Considered one of the organization\u2019s top prospects, the left-handed McGroarty made his NHL debut last season, skating in eight games and posting three points (one goal, two assists) while averaging 14:37 of ice time.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh goal!<\/p>\n Scored by Rutger McGroarty with 00:25 remaining in the 3rd period.<\/p>\n Assisted by Ville Koivunen and Erik Karlsson.<\/p>\n St. Louis: 4 \u2014 NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n A left foot injury brought his 2024-25 season to a halt on April 8. That ailment, combined with the malady he suffered during the offseason, led to him going approximately seven months between games of consequence.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just grateful to be playing hockey again,\u201d McGroarty said on Nov. 20<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s the game that I love and it\u2019s the sport that I love. I enjoy just being able to play hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n McGroarty (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) still qualifies as a rookie at the NHL level. He is in the second year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $950,000.<\/p>\n Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Columbus: 2#CBJvsPIT<\/a> #LetsGoPens<\/a> #CBJ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GvKSmn24f0<\/a><\/p>\n
Pittsburgh: 4#PITvsSTL<\/a> #stlblues<\/a> #LetsGoPens<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GcN0ucon9Q<\/a><\/p>\n