As the summer quickly approaches the training camp portion of the calendar for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a lot can happen. It's a lineup that will be full of alterations from this past offseason. It will be interesting to see if the team attempts to get younger by including some of their top prospects on the big club or not.
On paper, this roster has gotten worse over the summer, but that could always change.
The Penguins could use some help on the blue line, especially on the left side. They could also use for a younger player in their developmental system to come alive at training camp and take a job in the lineup. There will be some interesting battles to watch this preseason as Pittsburgh tries to find their best players. It will be up to those prospects to earn their roles and find their way in the NHL.
Pittsburgh Penguins prospects who could surprisingly win a roster spot at training camp
Rutger McGroarty
After some letdown stints in the NHL, Rutger McGroarty is running out of time to prove himself as one of the top skater prospects in the Penguins organization. He just hasn't been able to stabilize himself in the NHL. The hope is that he will have a strong training camp and stick in Pittsburgh this season. If he cannot accomplish that goal of making the NHL roster, his future with the team will become bleak.
It's a crowded group of forwards as training camp approaches, which could trigger a trade or two. If a move happens, that could allow for McGroarty and other prospects to have a better shot at making the roster. The young winger must show he is worth suiting up after final transactions are made by beating out names like Justin Brazeau, Nick Robertson, and potentially others.
Owen Pickering
He has quickly lost ground in the prospect rankings in Pittsburgh, but don't forget about Owen Pickering. The young defender is a former first round pick and is only 22 years old. The Penguins only have Samuel Girard as their lone left-handed defenseman set to make the team.
Unless some roster movement happens, that leaves at least one spot on the left side to be determined at training camp.
Pickering just hasn't been able to get back to the Penguins big club after a short, yet strong stint with the team a few seasons ago. He must beat out Ryan Graves for the final job on the bottom pairing. It seems like Trevor Van Reimsdyk will be playing on the left side, even though that might be a questionable choice. Hopefully Pickering can finally get a grasp on his first-round potential.
Bill Zonnon
He was one of Pittsburgh's three first round picks in 2025 and he has already started to show why they liked him so much. Bill Zonnon could beat the odds and win a roster spot despite it being so early in his development as a prospect. This outcome could potentially be the best for the Penguins and Zonnon long term. We know from Ben Kindel that they are not afraid to keep young skaters.
Even though Zonnon is coming off a season where he struggled with injuries, when he was healthy, he was on fire. He capped off a strong conclusion to his year with a magnificent performance during the AHL Penguins playoff run. He was a key catalyst for that team despite being a teenager. Zonnon could play his way into a fourth liner role, a job that would fit his skillset perfectly to start his career.
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