What is one thing that Rutger McGroarty, Joel Blomqvist, Owen Pickering and Ville Koivunen have in common? All skated a solo rookie lap to signify their first NHL game in the 2024-25 season. Look at that list of names again to let the impact settle in; all were 20-23 years old, former high draft picks and could all be fairly decent-sized players for the Penguins for years to come. That’s a nice crop of young talent making it’s way to the NHL.
The challenge in Pittsburgh will be to continue that. None of the 13 players they drafted this summer are expected to play in the NHL this season, which is completely natural and expected. It takes a while for draft pick to turn into prospect to develop into an actual NHL caliber player.
Who could be the next in the pipeline to skate in the NHL for the first time in the upcoming season? Let’s take a shot at predicting it.
Harrison Brunicke — It’s hard to state how much the Pens like this kid and how bright his future is looking. At just 19 years old, Brunicke has to play in the NHL or be assigned back to this junior team in Western Canada for the season. The Pens can play him up to nine games without tolling a year of his contract, which seems like a very possible path that could unfold if Brunicke has the type of impressive training camp that everyone is coming to expect at this point. Sure, Pittsburgh has a lot of right shot defensemen, and sure it’ll require some flexibility to get Brunicke in there. There’s a lot TBD, but if Brunicke is one of the Pens’ top defenders at camp, he’s going to get at least a look and chance in the NHL.
Tristan Broz — Could there be a path to some NHL games this season for Broz? Sure. It would be kinda nice if the Pens put someone like Broz ahead of Joona Koppanen in the call-up line. Broz turns 23 this October and it’s getting close to the point where it’s time to see if he’s got what it takes. He can play center, he’s pretty good all-around, it wouldn’t be hard to see a scenario where some injuries strike and the Pens need to give him a chance.
Avery Hayes — A lot of what’s said about Broz applies here to Hayes. Hayes could complete his “Conor Sheary circuit” by going from undrafted player to AHL contract to NHL contract to now looking to be an NHL player. Hayes scored 23 goals for Wilkes last year — no one scored more. He’s got a knack for making good things happen while he’s on the ice. Players like Sam Poulin or Valtteri Puustinen can serve a purpose but have had their chances over the years and been only marginally effective. It could be time for Hayes to surpass them on the organizational depth chart to see if he can offer more.
Ben Kindel — Above, we wrote that no 2025 NHL draft pick should be expected to play in the NHL this season. That’s correct. But the thing about training camp surprises is that they go against expectations. No one had Brunicke on the radar 12 months ago to make a run at an NHL job, but he did. Who’s to say that Kindel, the 11th pick in the 2025 draft, can’t do the same? Kindel isn’t in-line to play all season in Pittsburgh, he needs some work and general experience-gaining over the next couple of years as he grows and gets stronger. But he’s got a high hockey IQ and did score 99 points in the WHL last year as a 17-year old, there’s some skill there. It’s an extreme longshot bet that Kindel gets put in position to practice with the NHL caliber players, but if he gets an opportunity there’s always that outside chance of making the most of it. Don’t count on it happening, but we’ll throw in the hopeful mention here just the same.
