Penguins Relinquish Rights to Two Prospects

The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect pool officially shrank by two Saturday when the team did not tender offers, thus losing exclusive negotiating rights to a pair of prospects.

Thimo Nickl and Nolan Collins were due contracts by 5 p.m. June 1, but it appears the Penguins and president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas did not sign either. Both will become free agents.

Nickl, 22, was acquired on March 31, 2023, from Anaheim in exchange for the rights to 2019 fifth-rounder Judd Caufield. Nickl was Anaheim’s fourth-round pick in 2020 (104th overall). After three seasons, mostly in the second-tier Swedish league, he made his North American debut this season and played exclusively for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

In 66 games, the 6-foot-3, right-handed defenseman scored two goals with 19 assists.

Nolan Collins, 20, was the Penguins’ sixth-round pick in 2022 (167th overall) from the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. The heavy defenseman doesn’t score many points but is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. This season, he scored six goals with 20 assists in 65 games.

Both unsigned players were acquired by former GM Ron Hextall. As of publishing time, the Penguins have not confirmed the story, but they usually do not confirm inaction.