Penguins Development Camp Analysis: The Winners & Nice Surprises

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4 days ago

CRANBERRY — The third of the Penguins' three first-round picks, Will Horcoff, had a few goals over three games, but his team was winless. Top first-rounder Ben Kindel had none and took a few games to find some rhythm, while the middle of the three picks, Bill Zonnon, wore a winning smile after his Team Stevens was undefeated in three games.
Zonnon performed quite well en route to the hallowed if entirely forgettable, Development Cup Championship.
Indeed, Team Stevens was light on immediate prospects and heavier on players fighting to earn contracts and exposure in the camp. Zonnon, defenseman Emil Pieniniemi, and a couple of the older college prospects from Western Michigan, Iiro Hakkarainen and Joona Vaisanen (2024 sixth-round pick), were the team tent poles.
Zonnon converted a beauty of a give-and-go in the first game, but it was his strength on the puck that shone brightly. The prospects were not able to take it from him, nor did he lose many puck battles. He also shed several defenders who attempted to stop the play on the wall–skating through them and continuing forward.
The games were 4v4 with one 25-minute period, including a running clock until the final two minutes. As one might expect, with no practice time as a team, the games were
The Winners
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound 24th overall pick from the QMJHL has yet to fill out, but it's not hard to picture him in an NHL sweater playing a fast, tough game very soon. He was smart in the defensive zone; he carried the puck with purpose and aggression and asserted himself at every opportunity.
'There were games and sequences where he really stood out and wanted the puck,' Kostopoulos said. 'He was available for the puck. He made plays happen. He was transferred up the ice on a few occasions. And then we got one goal, maybe a couple there. It was nice to see.'
A few goals with power moves. He also flashed his power-forward potential. He was the biggest reach of the first round, but he also showed quite well, especially on Sunday and Monday, when things got competitive. Horcoff will go to the University of Michigan this season and will not attend the Rookie Camp or Training Camp, which is a bit of a shame, but it's not hard to picture him turning pro next spring. He played a power game, was tough on the wall, and played to his strengths.
Horcoff does it again… 1v2. No goal this time. pic.twitter.com/5KxJ6uAFPE
The initial impressions and returns indicate the Penguins' scouting staff, led by Wes Clark, has a chance for this to be an 'I told you so' moment.
Kostopoulos also praised Vaisenen after getting his first look at the 20-year-old right-handed defenseman prospect. Indeed, he was impactful–his skating was good, he read the plays well and jumped into the play as appropriate.
Vaisanen needs to add a little more weight, but he, too, looks closer to ready for the pro ranks. At 6-foot, 176 pounds, he'll probably return to Western Michigan, but next year will be his year.
The Finnish defenseman who polarized scouts before his 2023 third-round selection showed significantly better than in previous camps and opportunities. He read plays in the defensive zone and jumped into the play in the offensive zone. It's premature to fit him for an NHL sweater just yet, but the 20-year-old D-man who played last season for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL obviously took a step forward. He has a few more steps to take before he's an NHL defenseman, but it was a stark improvement over last year.
Right now, I'd put the 6-foot-3, 180-pound blue liner in the class with the recently traded Isaac Belliveau–good enough for the AHL but very good in the ECHL with a chance to keep improving.
Surprises
Every year, Pittsburgh Hockey Now asks Kostopoulos if any players surprised him. Until this year, the Penguins' director of player development somewhat dodged the question with praise for a lot of players. However, this year, Kostopoulos first mentioned Huglen as a 24-year-old college player who needs a pro contract.
'Aaron Huglen stood out. He's a guy that I would say I didn't know a ton about coming into this, and our scouts liked him. I've only seen him on video and chatted with him a few times, but I thought he made a good impression and played really well on the ice,' Kostopoulos said.
Get ready, WBS. Oh boy, get ready, WBS. The Penguins may need to station Boko Imama in Wilkes-Barre to protect Budnick, who is an agitator. He was under the opponents' skin Monday and got some hard shoves and sticks directed his way. He's an overage juniors player from Guelph and signed an AHL contract Sunday.
He's going to keep things spicy.
It seemed many of the plays for Team White involved Hanson in some way. The 5-foot-9 right-handed defenseman is attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, and it's worth keeping an eye on him. He skates with the puck well, has vision, and he looked quite good all day. His strength is on the rush and pushing the play, which he did without hesitation.
He's an undrafted player who could sign anywhere, and the Penguins might do well to offer him a contract now or promise him one in the spring to build some loyalty. He might be too small for the NHL, or he might now. He had a spark.
The Penguins 2025 fifth-round pick looked spunky. He ripped a solid goal in the championship and was all over the ice. He didn't waste his chance to shine. The Portland Winterhawks center put himself on the map over the last several days. He's not a threat to make the NHL roster this fall, but a good Rookie Camp and a good season in the WHL should open a few more eyes.
Shake It Off
Kindel was pretty good Sunday in the short ice drills, but at 4v4 in the full ice Monday, he struggled. Mightily. He tried to dance with the puck, but more often, opponents were able to catch him, and they were able to take the puck away. He didn't have a goal against a goalie Monday (he may have scored an empty netter). He couldn't create time or space, though he broke through late in the championship game with a couple of long rushes. Until that point, his puck time was more frustrating than productive.
Kostopoulos noted the necessary improvements.
'You see the hockey sense. You see the playmaking ability … and then the skating. I think there's a ton of room for growth and improvement (in the skating),' said Kostopoulos. 'So he's a very young kid. We're excited that he's here. I really enjoyed meeting him, working with him, and getting to know him. He's been really inquisitive, asking questions and wanting to learn. I think being here in this environment has been a bit eye-opening for him, just to see all the players and how hard everyone works. So it's been a really good trip for him, and then it's exciting to see that there's room for growth and strength…'
There's a lot between the lines there. Take it as you will.
He's big. He's quick. And he made some pretty saves. However, he has a lot of work to do, too. His angles were rough–really rough. Some of the good saves he made could have been easier stops if he were on the proper angle, but he seems to overplay the angle/shot, leaving a lot of net.
He wasn't torched Monday, but better players would have rung up a big number.
The Pens Elite product could have been better. He was not bad. But he wasn't good, either. He was too conservative and did not join the play enough, sometimes leaving his team shorthanded. It was hard to get a read on his game because he blended into the scenery while others made an impact.
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