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<\/p>\nKirk MacDonald\u2019s second season as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins has been a challenge.<\/p>\n
Successful? Most certainly. Entering Friday, the Penguins had the third-most points (31) in the 32-team American Hockey League (AHL) with a 15-5-1-9 record.<\/p>\n
But those triumphs have been achieved with a lineup that is constantly in flux.<\/p>\n
To be certain, minor league affiliates typically deal with plenty of comings and goings as their parent clubs recall players to fill holes in their lineup.<\/p>\n
But with the Pittsburgh Penguins dealing with more injuries than an emergency room on Thanksgiving morning, they have had to tap into their reserves early and often this season. As a result, the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins have dressed 35 different players nearly two months into the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n
Within the AHL, only the Abbotsford Canucks (39) and Hershey Bears (36) have deployed more bodies.<\/p>\n
Having spent nine seasons in the ECHL with the Reading Royals, MacDonald isn\u2019t fazed by having to get used to so many names.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou spent eight years in the \u2018Coast\u2019 (ECHL), that\u2019s just another day,\u201d MacDonald quipped. \u201cFrom a coaching standpoint, you just roll with the punches. We\u2019ve just kind of plugged and play. Whoever we\u2019ve got, we\u2019re going to run with. Guys are going to get opportunities. The one thing guys recognize is if they play well, there is an opportunity to go up (to the NHL club). A lot of guys have gotten opportunities so far this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the (AHL), it\u2019s going to be a rotating lineup just based on call-ups.\u201d<\/p>\n
In total, the NHL Penguins have summoned 10 different players from their AHL club. And there have been plenty of different scenarios for those players.<\/p>\n
Veterans such as forward Danton Heinen and defensemen Ryan Graves were at low points of their professional careers after clearing waivers and rebuilt confidence with Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton before returning to the NHL club.<\/p>\n
Others, such as prospects like forward Tristan Broz and goaltender Sergei Murashov, simply played well and were recalled when injuries created opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guys that are coming up, they\u2019re ready to play,\u201d Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse said. \u201cThey\u2019re in good position to jump into the lineup and execute a role. They\u2019ve been doing that while, at the same time, winning games. And they\u2019ve been winning with, it seems like, just a different lineup just about every night.\u201d<\/p>\n
MacDonald credits Muse \u2014 in his first year as an NHL head coach \u2014 as having a role in his team\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhilosophically, I think (Muse) and I see the game really similarly,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cHe\u2019s been awesome at keeping in touch. We talk probably once a week since he got the job. We had our coaches meetings early in September before (training) camp started. It allowed us to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody is really on the same page. Camp was awesome. It felt like when we started (Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton\u2019s) training camp, it wasn\u2019t really the start of camp because we just rolled in to what we were doing previously when the guys were in (Pittsburgh\u2019s camp). It really made for a seamless transition, and I think it had a big reason for our good start this (season).\u201d<\/p>\n
That start has been successful in terms of high numbers of wins and promotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning and development are not exclusive,\u2019 MacDonald said. \u201cIf you\u2019re developing players at our level and getting better and preparing them for the NHL. Usually, the results take care of themselves. We are really aligned on a lot of things, how we see the game. It makes it a lot easier for us. They just go up. It\u2019s kind of plug and play. Those guys that can go up, all they have to worry about is just playing the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, every guy here gets an opportunity. We want everybody here to hopefully move on because that means we\u2019re doing the right job.\u201d<\/p>\n
MacDonald touched on a number of topics in a phone interview on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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Forward Philip Tomasino was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins on Nov. 24 (KDP Studio).<\/p>\n
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\u2022 In addition to Graves and Heinen \u2014 the latter has since returned to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton \u2014 forward Philip Tomasino is another veteran who went through waivers and was assigned to the AHL affiliate. So far, his time with Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton has been prolific as he has six points (one goal, five assists) and, surprisingly, 21 penalty minutes in only three games.<\/p>\n
MacDonald embraces the challenge of helping them reset professionally.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Graves), came down here, he got a ton of puck touches that he might not have gotten at the NHL level, running our power play, that kind of stuff,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cHelp him feel good again. (Heinen) has gotten a ton of touches down here that he might not otherwise get in the NHL. Same with (Tomasino).<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care who it is. If we see a guy go back up and have success, we\u2019re pumped for him. That\u2019s our job. We\u2019re trying to win hockey games and develop guys. I don\u2019t care what age they are. We\u2019re trying to help them get better and make the most out of their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In his first four games of the season, Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist has a 3-1-0 record (KDP Studio).<\/p>\n
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\u2022 Another lineup problem MacDonald has had to deal with is a marvelous quandary to have as he has promising goaltending prospects such as Joel Blomqvist and Murashov as well as sturdy veteran Filip Larsson at his disposal.<\/p>\n
Larsson, who was one of the AHL\u2019s leaders in shutouts last season with five, has taken a \u201cback seat\u201d to Blomqvist and Murashov, who are duking it out for playing time.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Blomqvist) and Sergei, it\u2019s a battle right now,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201c(Blomqvist) came back from (a preseason) injury, he\u2019s been outstanding. \u2026 They\u2019ve both been outstanding. If they keep playing like this, it\u2019s easy. Just keep alternating. If somebody grabs the ball, maybe it changes. But both are super competitive guys. They\u2019re both outstanding goaltenders. They\u2019re both 1A (goaltenders) at this level.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, the decision is pretty easy. Just keep rolling with both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Defenseman Harrison Brunicke is currently stationed with Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton on a two-week conditioning assignment. One of the organization\u2019s top prospects, Brunicke has two assists in three AHL games after being a frequent healthy scratch with the NHL club.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s kind of been in a tough spot just in the sense he sat and didn\u2019t play for a few weeks when he got to us,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cThe first game, I thought he was a little rusty. Those game-like habits, where there\u2019s not much practice time in the NHL, so he\u2019s kind of just doing a lot of video. (During a 6-2 road loss to the Bears on Nov. 29), our team wasn\u2019t great but he was our best defenseman. He had a great assist on our second goal.<\/p>\n
KLASSER ???? pic.twitter.com\/sGfs7olhll<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) November 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHim realizing how good of a skater he is defending the rush, the more he does it \u2014 he can skate forwards and kill plays really early \u2014 the more he\u2019s going to realize he\u2019s going to have the puck and not have to play in the (defensive) zone. The progression over the three games was great to see. He had a really good week of practice here. I have no doubt that he\u2019s going to get even better this weekend over these next two games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Another leading defensive prospect, Owen Pickering, has been with the AHL Penguins after an underwhelming four-game stint with the NHL Penguins in late October and early November. MacDonald is preaching patience with the development of the player the organization selected in the first round (No. 21 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n \u201c(Pickering) is doing a great job for us,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cA second-year pro, he just has to continue to get physically stronger. But he\u2019s doing a lot of good things. He\u2019s getting some more minutes and maybe more offensive situations this (season) that he\u2019s earned. But he\u2019s still defending well. Every guy\u2019s path is different and nobody is the same. He\u2019s doing a lot of good things to continue progressing and knocking on the door to get another opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201c(Pickering) had been awesome for us. He\u2019s big, long. He\u2019s willing to learn. He competes every day he\u2019s on the ice. It\u2019s part of the process. He goes up. Whether it\u2019s good or not, guys come back. Now, he\u2019s back here. He\u2019s going to learn from an experience in Pittsburgh and he\u2019s going to continue to get better here for when the next (recall) comes. He\u2019s doing a great job embracing where he is and not worry about that kind of stuff and just focusing on the day-to-day of trying to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n In 15 games this season, Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins forward Avery Hayes has nine points (five goals, four assists). (KDP Studio)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Forward Avery Hayes turned some heads during a productive NHL preseason in which he generated three points (one goal, two assists) in four games. After earning an NHL contract as an undrafted free agent last season, big things were expected of Hayes entering this season. But an undisclosed injury sidelined him for six games in November and stunted his 2025-26 season to a degree.<\/p>\n \u201cOffense, the puck hasn\u2019t dropped for him but I don\u2019t think he\u2019s playing bad,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cYou know what you\u2019re getting from the kid every day and that\u2019s a really solid effort. He competes his (butt) off. He\u2019s super reliable. You love having him on the team. A little bit of a setback with the injury but he\u2019s creating. It would be one thing if he wasn\u2019t in the (offensive) zone and getting chances. But he\u2019s creating a lot of offense.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long season. There\u2019s going to be stretches where pucks don\u2019t\u2019 fall for you but his details are very good. Guys like that, they\u2019ve just got to keep working and the opportunity is going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Broz made his NHL debut late last month after being recalled to Pittsburgh for the first time. A second-round draft pick (No. 58 overall) in 2021, Broz \u2014 who was sent back to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton on Sunday \u2014 has improved his defensive work.<\/p>\n \u201c(Broz) is continuing to get better,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cHe only really started playing center at (the University of Denver) his last year (2023-24), the second half of that year. Last (season) was his first full season playing the position and he\u2019s continued to build on that. He\u2019s been doing a great job for us. A great penalty killer, power-play guy as well.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s somebody for us that we look at the last minute of the game \u2014 whether we\u2019re winning or losing \u2014 he\u2019s going to be on the ice. That speaks a lot for him. If he wants to stick at that next level, he\u2019s got to be able to play on both sides of the puck, especially defend well. He\u2019s a guy that we definitely lean on late in games with a lead. We\u2019ve been in those situations a lot this year and he\u2019s done a great job for us. He\u2019s only going to continue to get better. He works his tail off. That was a first opportunity for him. Hopefully, there\u2019s many more and an opportunity to stick.\u201d<\/p>\n In 19 games this season, Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins forward Sam Poulin has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists). (KDP Studio)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Forward Sam Poulin, who was a first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) in 2019, and forward Valtteri Puustinen have been in the organization for several seasons and have gotten sporadic recalls to the NHL club. But neither has gained sufficient traction at that level and are still with the AHL club.<\/p>\n Both have been productive this season and are still trying to find a way back to the NHL on a full-time basis.<\/p>\n Poulin had a brief two-game stint in the NHL following a recall last month. He is Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton\u2019s top scorer with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 19 games.<\/p>\n \u201cSammy\u2019s been great,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cKind of a jack of all trades for us. We can play him anywhere in the lineup, anywhere on the power play. He\u2019s one of our top penalty killers.\u201d<\/p>\n Puustinen is fourth on the team with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 16 games.<\/p>\n \u201c(Puustinen) has played really well too,\u201d Puustinen said. \u201cHe maybe gets lost in that shuffle of what the outside talk is about. But he\u2019s (almost) a point of game. He\u2019s competed really hard. He\u2019s been better for us this year than last. He\u2019s been really good. He\u2019s worked his way in here and there on the penalty kill. Five on five, he\u2019s competed really hard. He\u2019s a stalwart (on the power play) for us. He\u2019s done a lot for us this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Both players are in the final years of their contracts and have been through waivers a handful of times. How do they remain motivated in chasing a future that might happen (at least with the NHL Penguins)?<\/p>\n \u201cThe opportunity is here,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cAlso, there\u2019s 31 other teams watching you every night. That gets lost sometimes, on guys. You go out and compete. Eventually, if you do the right things, you\u2019re going to get an opportunity. Guys just got to keep working and understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins defenseman Phil Kemp was named captain on Nov. 22. (KDP Studio)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 Defenseman Phil Kemp was named captain of the team Nov. 22. Management (president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and assistant general manager Jason Spezza) had final say on that appointment but discussions were held from seemingly every corner of the AHL club\u2019s domain in selecting Kemp.<\/p>\n \u201cPlayers have input,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have a vote but we\u2019re definitely canvassing the group. The trainers have input. The equipment guys and trainers see much more stuff than I do. You\u2019ve got to lean on those guys. The assistant coaches, (goaltending coach Kain Tisi), everybody had input for us to get to this decision. Management has final say but there was a lot of input.\u201d<\/p>\n The 26-year-old Kemp, a veteran of six professional seasons, largely fits the bill of what is wanted in that role.<\/p>\n \u201c(Kemp\u2019s) demeanor within the room, the way we want to play and from an energy standpoint, he brings it,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cNow, he\u2019s not the most offensive guy in the world but the compete and the tenacity with which he plays is what we want our group to be about. And he does a great job in the room, bringing guys along in that. Sometimes, you just know. He was a really good fit and we thought it was a time to make a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Kirk MacDonald was hired as the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins head coach on June 19, 2024 (KDP Studio).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2022 As for MacDonald, he\u2019s in a position that tends to lead to the NHL.<\/p>\n The likes of Michel Therrien, Todd Richards, Dan Bylsma, Todd Reirden, John Hynes and Mike Sullivan have been Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton\u2019s head coach and graduated to the NHL. MacDonald isn\u2019t oblivious to that history. But he\u2019s not dwelling on it either.<\/p>\n \u201cAnybody who\u2019s in the (AHL) and says their goal isn\u2019t eventually find a way to the NHL \u2014 playing, coaching, training, equipment staff \u2014 is lying or they shouldn\u2019t be in this job,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cThat being said, I think you\u2019ve got to be a big believer in just focusing on the task at hand and the team you\u2019ve got. That stuff is out of my control.<\/p>\n Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery, who won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL\u2019s top coach last season, offered some advice to MacDonald about his own journey as a coach, which started with the ECHL\u2019s South Carolina Stingrays.<\/p>\n \u201cEarlier in my career, when I was in the (ECHL) and you\u2019re dying to get out of there, you get consumed by trying to leave and you stop focusing on what you should be doing as a coach,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cIt gets you into trouble and it got me into trouble. That was a lesson learned early. (Carbery) told me that when we were chatting one offseason and it definitely stuck. Just focus on what you\u2019re doing as a coach, focus on the team. The other stuff is kind of out of your control.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I couldn\u2019t ask for a better place to land,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cI know those guys in the past that have been here. But nobody\u2019s path is the same, playing or coaching. I\u2019m not too concerned. I just try to show up every day and help the guys get better and win games. Practice what you preach and tell the players to focus on yourself and worry about what\u2019s going on here and not worry about outside stuff.\u201d<\/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![\"9104232_web1_ptr-penshayes-120625\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9104232_web1_ptr-PensHayes-120625.jpg\"\/ "\\"9104232_web1_ptr-penshayes-120625\\"")
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