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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top 25 Penguins Prospects, #25-21; Hidden Gems & Honorable Mentions
In the nearly decade-long existence of Pittsburgh Hockey Now and its predecessors, which were poorly built, self-published webpages, there has not been a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect list that needed to go beyond the top 10. There may have been more than 10 prospects, but never were they threats to make it to the NHL. As PHN began compiling its annual list, we quickly realized there were well more than 10 prospects this year. In fact, there were more than 15, and–wow–more than 20. Having 13 picks from the 2025 NHL Draft buttressed the numbers, as have a few trades over the past 18 months that have added to the bounty, including getting three prospects (Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, and Cruz Lucius) in the Jake Guentzel trade. Towards the back of the Penguins' prospect list, there are goalies with special abilities and defensemen who flew well under the radar but were noticeable at the most recent Development Camp. Read More: The players not on the list are fading prospects who are hoping to achieve a turnaround. So, no, you won't see Sam Poulin or Valtteri Puustinen on the Top 25 list. Six years after being drafted, they still have a chance to play in the NHL, but their prospect status has been traded for young veterans or hopeful veterans. Nor did Vasily Ponomarev make the list. Ponomarev bolted for the KHL after some lackluster performances in the NHL. The gut feeling is that both the team and the player were a little disappointed by the other. The prospect list criteria are rather simple. The player must be under 25 (so no Jack St. Ivany either), and we're grading on a subjective mixture of readiness and projected impact. For example, Ben Kindel was drafted 11th overall and should be expected to provide the largest impact of the prospects, but defenseman Owen Pickering will also have some impact and be ready much sooner. So, Pickering could rate ahead of Kindel on this list. The top rankings will be out in a few days. For the bottom of the list players below, we'll not project when they could hit the NHL. These players will need a couple of years to establish their path, or maybe more. Honorable Mentions There are a handful of players who could be in the top 25. Their hopes of making it all the way to the Pittsburgh Penguins are no less real than the prospects at the back of the prospect list. However, we're projecting their ceilings to be lower, and they get the Honorable Mention. Mac Swanson: Mighty Mac. After putting up big numbers with the Fargo Force of the USHL, he played last season at the Palace on the Prairie, the University of North Dakota. His biggest impediment is being listed at 5-foot-8 and looking much shorter than that. He had 18 points (2-16-18) in 38 games as a freshman. Swanson was the Penguins' 2024 seventh-round pick. He didn't stand out at camp, but he made a few plays during the scrimmage that showed his playmaking skills. Finn Harding: Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas mentioned him by name at his season-ending press conference as one of the few defenseman prospects in the system. However, Dubas also noted he has a long way to go. Harding was the Penguins' 2023 seventh-rounder. Harding also made his pro debut with Wheeling, playing three games without a point. Carter Sanderson: Another late-rounder, Sanderson was the Penguins' sixth-round pick in the 2025 Draft. He showed well in the Development Camp this month. He just completed his first year in the USHL, registering only 11 points, but he had a little spark in camp, and he could grow into something worth keeping an eye on. Daniel Laatsch: The big 6-foot-6 defenseman was a seventh-round pick from the University of Wisconsin. He'll turn pro this year after signing a two-year entry-level contract in March. He's not an offensive threat, and he's not a great skater, though he's not bad, either. Laatsch is stay-home posiitonal defender. Top 25 Penguins Prospects, 25-21 Miller looked like a polished product at the Development Camp. The Portland Winterhawks center had an on-ice poise and maturity that nicely complemented good skating, high intensity, and hockey IQ. He made an impact for his team during the camp scrimmage. Whether it was intentional or luck, the Penguins selected a handful of players who play a gritty game, and Miller was one. He was the first of three Penguins fifth-round picks in the 2025 Draft. The second of the Penguins' 2025 fifth-rounders, Beauchense, also had a productive camp and was noticeable in drills and the scrimmage. The right-shot defenseman has solid size, at 6-foot, 190 pounds, and skates well. He's only played two seasons of junior hockey–denoting how young he is–but he upped his offensive output to 24 points (6-18-24) in 49 games last season. He's ahead of others with better resumes at No. 24 primarily because of how visible he was at camp. The Penguins' 2024 fourth-round pick left Michigan Tech after two seasons and played 12 professional games last season. He played three with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and nine for the Wheeling Nailers, where he had three assists. Pietila is a right-shot defenseman with size. He's 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and a smart defenseman. Though he wasn't a standout at the recent camp, he didn't need to be. The Penguins saw enough to sign him to his ELC despite some college eligibility remaining. Lucius comes from a hockey family, though his older brother just retired from pro hockey due to a genetic condition. The Arizona State product has flashed much greater potential than he's consistently shown. 'He's got a high-end skill set. I think his shot, his puck skills, are elite,' said Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos after the Development Camp. 'I think he knows this is a huge year for him. He has to prove what kind of player he can become. And he's been working hard throughout the summer, and I know he's going to push himself. So this will be a big season for him.' After transferring from Wisconsin to Arizona State, Lucius had an underwhelming 10 points (2-8-10) in 19 games. Fernstrom was another piece of the return from the Vancouver Canucks when the Penguins traded Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to Vancouver. Of course, the big prize for the Penguins in that trade was the New York Rangers' first-round pick. Fernstrom was the Canucks' third-round pick in 2024, but he hasn't yet had his breakout moment. He's a slow skater with good offensive instincts, but he'll have to improve his skating to be able to use those gifts in professional hockey. The Penguins are sending him back to the Swedish Elite League for another season–last season, he had 17 points (8-9-17) for Orebro HK. Perhaps the Penguins' player development and performance staff can retool to help him add speed to augment his game. The post Top 25 Penguins Prospects, #25-21; Hidden Gems & Honorable Mentions appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Analyzing Deeper Penguins Prospect Pool; Rebuild Progress
There was a striking difference in depth and talent of the 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins prospect pool compared to just two years ago. Gone were empty spaces and undrafted longshots whose chance of achieving NHL ice was roughly the same as finding an autographed bible, replaced with legitimate players with big offensive totals, big shoulders, and a few big chips resting upon ready shoulders. The Top 10 prospects included five first-round picks and four second-round picks. Read More: The only oddball of the group was rising goalie star Sergei Musharov, who was a 2022 fourth-rounder, but likely fell because he was still in the Russian second-tier league. In fact, within our Top 15 Penguins prospects, there were two more recent second-round picks, Tanner Howe and Peyton Kettles; Howe represented Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors. Overall, we were particularly impressed with 2025 first-round picks Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall). Zonnon could blossom into a strong middle-six center role, while Horcoff seems destined to be a power forward. Lest we forget, the organization clearly projects the 11th overall pick, Ben Kindel, to be a top-six center, though he has a longer path in front of him as he physically matures and improves his skating. The driving point, as we checked down the prospect list, was that Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas has quickly stocked the shelves with at least a half-dozen players, if not a baker's dozen, who are likely to play in the NHL. That's a far cry from wondering if long vanished prospects such as Linus Ohlund or Sam Miletic could take gargantuan steps forward (each was in our 2021 Top 10). However, as we extoll the work Dubas and vice president of player personnel Wes Clark are doing, there is a real and pressing shortcoming that will not be easy to correct: The Penguins are missing the next cornerstone of their roster. They are missing the next No. 1 center and perhaps the No. 2 center. Sidney Crosby turns 38 in August. Evgeni Malkin turns 39 next week. The finite amount of time the Penguins have with unquestioned leaders and top-of-the-lineup centers is drawing to a close, at least for Malkin. Obviously, the traditional way of adding star players is with high draft picks. However, as the Penguins' roster for 2027 and beyond begins to take shape, or at least some rough sketch thereof, 2026 and 2027 may be Dubas's best or only chances for a top-five draft pick. Yet, with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust joining Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty in the Penguins' top six, the team will be at least good enough to stay within sight of the playoff chase. Tank? Create a 'less than' roster capable of a high pick? Dubas is thus far rejecting such talk. 'The one thing that I do disagree with is, is just the notion that we're actively trying to get worse. That doesn't really enter into our mindset at all, that we're going to go out, we're going to purposely become worse,' said Dubas on the recent PDOcast podcast. Some Penguins fans will grit their teeth and argue, but there are additional ways to become permanently competitive. See also: two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Florida No. 1 center Sasha Barkov was an 11th overall pick. The heartbeat of the team, Matthew Tkachuk, was a trade acquisition that cost them a top-line winger (Jonathan Huberdeau), a top-four defenseman (Mackenzie Weegar), a depth player, and a first-round pick. When the time is right, the Penguins will certainly have that kind of capital to spend on a player they feel is the right catalyst for their Stanley Cup hopes. As of now, the Top 25 Penguins Prospect List is substantial and, quite frankly, impressive. From nothing to overflowing in two years is a feat to be praised. Now, there's a lot riding on the picks of Kindel and Zonnon, for at least one to be a significant contributor. The prospect list means there is a good foundation of possibility. There are more needs and more additions to make. It could be false hope, or it could be a very quick turn with light already shining at the end of the tunnel. Let's talk again after a Rickard Rakell or Erik Karlsson trade. The post Analyzing Deeper Penguins Prospect Pool; Rebuild Progress appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins Development Camp Analysis: The Winners & Nice Surprises
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. 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. The post Penguins Development Camp Analysis: The Winners & Nice Surprises appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins Prospects: Brunicke & Broz, Why the 2nd Rounders are Next
CRANBERRY — Tristan Broz and Harrison Brunicke were drafted three years apart and by different regimes, but both Pittsburgh Penguins second-round picks appear poised to make waves in the Penguins' prospect pool. Brunicke was the Penguins' first of two second-round picks in 2024 (44th overall), and despite long odds, the defenseman nearly made the NHL team out of training camp last season and has done nothing in this year's Development Camp to show that he's regressed. The PHN analysis has been favorable to the right-shot defenseman. In fact, the one thing keeping him from the Penguins' lineup might be space. Currently, the team has at least three right-shot defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart, including the newly acquired Connor Clifton. Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson are the other two D-men already on the NHL roster, and even as Karlsson's name appears weekly in the NHL trade rumors, his hefty $10 million salary cap hit and subpar performance last season complicate any deals. Yet, Brunicke has zipped around his fellow prospects on the ice as easily as he leaped ahead of professional defensemen last fall. While Brunicke can't turn pro this season unless he makes the NHL roster (and only the NHL roster), he has proven to be a quick study. 'Getting to play in those four or five preseason games really helped my development,' Brunicke told PHN. 'And also going to Wilkes at the end year, I thought that was really good for me–just to get a taste of pro hockey. You know, I'm not going to lie, the first couple of games were definitely hard to adjust to, but once you kind of figured it out, I thought I was playing some of my best hockey.' He played 10 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season following the conclusion of his juniors season, registering just two assists. And he's correct. The first few games did not go so well, but by the playoffs, he was the best defenseman on the ice and scored the biggest goal of the WBS's season before the team gave up a late goal to lose a deciding playoff game. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blue liner is also learning an important lesson for defensemen: Sometimes, doing less is more. 'The goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding. I thought his ability to kill plays–the less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes,' said WBS coach Kirk MacDonald. '(He accomplishes more) just by making a really good first pass and then activating and jumping in the rush.' For those who have attended the Development Camp, Brunicke's agile skating and acceleration have been immediately noticeable. During crowded center ice drills on Sunday, he skated around players backward and forward, finding passing lanes and keeping the puck despite tight pressure. Brunicke has already learned a couple of the hard lessons, and he's showing them off at camp. 'He figured it out quick. He came in initially (and had to overcome) juniors habits, where you can just skate by people and hold onto the puck for a long time–I thought he did a really good job,' said MacDonald. 'The last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint, he was moving pucks quick, jumping in the rush.' If the Penguins have space, Brunicke looks like a steal for a second-rounder, and Penguins fans might very well get a good look at him in October. Tristan Broz Once Broz, 22, was properly cast, his career took off. He was a bottom-line winger for the University of Denver in the 2023-24 season, his final collegiate campaign. Things were not going well for the 2021 second-rounder, drafted by former GM Ron Hextall with the team's first selection in the draft. Then, team injuries created opportunity, and Broz was moved to center by coach David Carle in the middle of the season. By the end of the year, Broz had scored a couple of overtime goals in the NCAA tournament, and Denver won the national championship. Riding the wave of momentum that carried him from Denver to a couple of playoff games with WBS to turning pro, Broz hit the ground running with WBS last season. MacDonald seemed to hint that the expectation is for Broz to start the year in the AHL, but big things are expected soon. 'I think he's going to have a huge year for us. I think a big thing to remember is he has only played center basically for a year and a half. And he's done a great job with it. His reads are really good. I think he's gonna take a bigger role in our penalty kill, assuming he's with us,' MacDonald said. 'I know he's coming (to Pittsburgh) with the goal to play (in Pittsburgh), but from that standpoint, I think there's an opportunity for him to have a big role this year and then knock on the door. Because I really thought before he got mono, he was gonna play up here this year. He was outstanding for us … I know he's probably training his ass off right now to be ready to go for September.' Misfortune caught Broz last winter, and he missed weeks in the middle of the season due to mono. No skating, no working out, just weathering the storm until he could return. Even then, it took a few weeks or more to hit his full stride. Broz has aged out of the Development Camp and is not in Cranberry this week. However, MacDonald's swift and earnest praise quickly exceeded the usual public pat on the back for players. When discussing how well Broz was playing before illness, MacDonald's head shook and his voice changed, both conveying amazement. Indeed, the Penguins' NHL roster is stocked with NHL forwards. More than they keep, actually. A rough count of players who will be fighting for an NHL roster spot is 18, including depth players such as Joona Koppanen and newly signed Rafael Harvey-Pinard. That number does not include Broz, though even Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas indicated last April that he intended to call up Broz but did not because he felt the Penguins' situation was not advantageous for the player. Could Broz's shifty skating and surprisingly slick hands claim a middle-six center spot? In 59 AHL games, he had 19 goals and 37 points, but a dozen or so of those games were spent trying to get back into shape after being wiped out by the illness. Broz also had three points (2-1-3) in two playoff games. While the attention over the past several days has focused on 2025 first-round picks Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, and Will Horcoff, it's a pair of second-rounders who are up next in the Penguins' rebuild. The post Penguins Prospects: Brunicke & Broz, Why the 2nd Rounders are Next appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'I do not see it, period': John Shannon rules out Sidney Crosby trade
Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images Veteran NHL analyst John Shannon has weighed in firmly on the swirling trade rumors involving Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. Appearing on the Sekeres & Price podcast, Shannon made his stance crystal clear: he does not believe a Crosby trade is on the table. As speculation grows around the Penguins' future, Shannon's words carry significant weight. John Shannon shuts down Sidney Crosby trade talk on Sekeres & Price When asked directly about the possibility of Sidney Crosby being traded, John Shannon responded unequivocally: 'I do not see it, period.' His strong denial came during Episode of the Sekeres & Price podcast, a trusted source for NHL commentary. The veteran broadcaster and former Hockey Night in Canada executive emphasized that despite ongoing rumors, there is no realistic scenario where Crosby is moved. Shannon's dismissal of the trade chatter is a major statement given the growing uncertainty in Pittsburgh. With the Penguins missing the playoffs for a second straight year and entering a transitional phase, many speculated that the franchise might part ways with its longtime captain to begin a full rebuild. But according to Shannon, that's simply not happening. John Shannon: Canucks business continuing deep into the summer. Would Crosby ever leave Pittsburg? Rumors swirl amid Penguins' declining playoff hopes Trade speculation has picked up steam this offseason, fueled by the Penguins' recent struggles and Crosby's age, he is turning 38 this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Premium Dubai Homes Now Available—Direct from Dubai's top developer Binghatti Developers FZE Contact Us Undo Reports from multiple outlets have linked him to potential suitors such as the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. Some insiders even suggested that Crosby could waive his no-move clause if the Penguins were fully rebuilding. However, team executives have consistently denied those claims. Both Crosby's camp and the organization have remained quiet, preferring to let speculation play out in the media. Shannon's authoritative voice, though, offers a reality check for those expecting a blockbuster move. A legend likely to stay in Pittsburgh Crosby has spent his entire NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins since being drafted first overall in 2005. He's won three Stanley Cups and remains the face of the franchise. While changes could come to the team's roster, it appears Crosby will stay put. John Shannon's strong words provide a firm rebuttal to Sidney Crosby trade rumors. As the offseason progresses, fans and analysts may continue to speculate, but for now, it seems clear: Crosby isn't going anywhere. Also Read: Carter Bear inks entry-level deal with Detroit Red Wings after strong WHL season Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
