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WILKES-BARRE — During a day off on Tuesday, Carter Rowney spent his time away from the ice getting his family settled in to their new home.
When he was back on the ice for Wednesday’s practice, Rowney settled in to his new role as one of two alternate captains for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The four-year pro has experienced a lot of positives over the season — he turned in a career year with 56 points, earned his first NHL deal and now is adding a leadership role to his resume.
The “A” on his jersey was proof of Rowney’s abilities, but the letter did come as a surprise.
“I walked into the locker room before the game and there it was,” he said. “It was exciting to see that on my jersey, and it definitely felt like an honor and a privilege to wear it on opening night.”
The 27-year-old Rowney proved he could provide more than leadership in the opener. He also provided offense as well, scoring a power-play goal and assisting on another during the Penguins 6-2 win over Hartford.
After he registered 12 multi-point games last season, Rowney wasted no time adding up a new total this year. Reunited on a line with Tom Kostopoulos and Jake Guentzel, Rowney is optimistic there will be more multi-point efforts this season.
He also believes Saturday’s win was evidence that while the Penguins defense is loaded with the depth, the offense can be a powerhouse as well.
“There is a huge amount of skill with our forwards. We play a solid, heavy game that controls pucks and we’re all eager to create offense and not neglect the defensive side of things as well,” Rowney said.
While the Guentzel-Kostopoulos-Rowney trio is the Penguins’ top line, Rowney said the pressure to produce has been lightened by the fact that all four of the team’s lines can contribute offensively.
He said the depth also creates a competition as players jockey for ice time, and Rowney added that despite the balanced attack, he still feels an urgency to produce.
“It’s nice to know the other lines are expected to produce and can carry some of the weight, but we can’t let up,” he said.
And personally, Rowney has to continue to produce to keep himself on Pittsburgh’s radar when it comes time for a call-up. If it happens, it would be Rowney’s first time in the NHL.
But for right now, that’s not on his mind, according to Penguins coach Clark Donatelli.
“It’s his mindset and his approach coming to the rink and taking care of what he can do and not let the outside distraction bother him,” Donatelli said. “He has the work ethic and he’s off to a good start.”
It’s a start that Rowney hopes to continue.
“I’m glad to be put in offensive situations like I was Saturday,” he said. “I strive on that and that game is something I want to build on.”
Prow sent down
For now, Ethan Prow is the odd man out on the Penguins’ crowded blueline. The Penguins assigned the defenseman to their ECHL affiliate in Wheeling on Wednesday.
Prow signed as a free agent last spring after graduating from St. Cloud State, where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.