The Case For Carter Rowney

After years of trading away multiple draft picks and prospects to try to bring the Penguins a Stanley Cup, the talent pool of the Penguins is pretty bare. Since the Penguins selected Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick in 2005, only three of their first round picks since then remain in the Penguins system. With such a low talent pool, the Penguins have been gifted upon the success of lower round picks such as Oskar Sundqvist, Tom Kuhnhackl, Bryan Rust, and Scott Wilson.

One player that has been overlooked over all of these players though was never even drafted. This player started his way from the bottom with the Wheeling Nailers, and now he's making his case to make the Penguins. That player is Carter Rowney.

The 26 year old forward has had a huge impact playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. Ranking first among all Baby Penguins players with 21 goals and 52 points in 65 games this season, Rowney has been an offensive force on the division leading Penguins. For a team that has had Bryan Rust, Scott Wilson, Tom Kuhnhackl, Conor Sheary, and others missing due to call up, that is a very surprising stat.

For a team with a “low talent pool,” somehow Pittsburgh continues to bring up NHL calibre players. Nobody would’ve figured that Dominik Simon or Daniel Sprong would’ve played NHL minutes in their draft year, especially considering both were lower round picks. Its been made pretty clear that not just skilled players can make this team. Pittsburgh looks for fast and tough skaters with a huge work ethic.

With all of the injuries in Pittsburgh this year, the team that suffered the most was the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. After an amazing start to the season, the Baby Penguins first lost their head coach with Sullivan being promoted. Then the injuries came, with some of their top offensive threats being promoted to Pittsburgh. Then their star goalie Matt Murray was called up after the lackluster play of Jeff Zatkoff.

With so many ECHL caliber players playing in the AHL, nobody would expect the Penguins to keep pushing out quality players. A lot of the credit goes to Rowney. If it weren't for all the call ups, Carter probably wouldn't be the leading scorer on the Baby Penguins. Somebody had to step up, though, and Carter was the guy to do it. His offensive dominance has kept WBS in playoff contention, something that wouldn't be expected from an undrafted NCAA player.

Speed is the identity of this time. Whether you're a defenseman or forward, to play on this team it is demanded that a player is fast and physical. There is no giving up under Mike Sullivan. If you give up in a game, you give up your spot on the lineup. That's how competitive it has become to make this team. That's why players like David Perron or Sergei Plotnikov fell out of favor. Rowney is a player that will never give up. At 6’2” and 208 pounds, Rowney can physically impose players as well as being an offensive threat.

Look at a player like Conor Sheary, who like Rowney, was an undrafted forward. After working his way through the system, Sheary is now playing critical minutes in Pittsburgh. Another player that knows and buys into the system is exactly what the Penguins need.

As this shows, Rowney is a player that fits Head Coach Mike Sullivan’s style of play perfectly. He has the work ethic, physicality, speed, toughness, and many other characteristics that an NHL player needs.

This is not to say that Rowney should be playing in Pittsburgh over the likes of Scott Wilson, Bryan Rust, or Conor Sheary. Those players deserve to be where they are as of now. Rowney is still working his way through the system, something those other players have already done. For the future though, it seems very bright for Mr. Rowney.

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