Penguins’ Prospects Standing Out in the Preseason

Preseason is officially underway, and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ young prospects are trying to prove they have what it takes to earn a permanent roster spot. The Penguins have lost two games so far; however, some of their young standouts have shown they could be NHL-ready sooner rather than later. 

Penguins Put Together a Good Team Performance 

On Sept. 22, the Penguins lost 2-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout. Since it’s preseason, the final score is not what’s important. For the first time in a while, Pittsburgh had a young team on the ice that was not a complete embarrassment. 

Usually, the first preseason game for any team is a bit sloppy as the players are trying to find a good rhythm. However, the Penguins looked pretty sharp from the very beginning and stayed engaged and physical for most of the game. First-year head coach Dan Muse has been running a very intense training camp, and that intensity definitely carried over to the game. There were several good performances, but will these players remain consistent throughout the rest of the preseason?

Penguins Prospects Report Card

Tristan Broz: B+

Tristan Broz has been quietly making his way to the top of the prospects list for a while now. In the game against Montreal, he had a power-play goal in the first period, and he was good on the penalty kill. He does not play a flashy game, but he’s good at reading plays and going to the right areas on the ice. 

Broz has good speed and solid decision-making skills, and he is not afraid to shoot the puck. It is too soon to say whether or not he will earn a roster spot, but even if he doesn’t, he will more than likely be the first call-up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the event of an injury. 

Harrison Brunicke: A-

Harrison Brunicke was probably the best player on the ice for Pittsburgh’s preseason opener. He had six shots on goal, and he picked up the assist on Broz’s goal. He was paired with Owen Pickering, which seemed to work out very well.