With the Pittsburgh Penguins being in limbo that past couple of years, many hope that they can turn the corner back to relevancy this season. If the club has any potential to become legit Stanley Cup contender, they must count on the many prospects in their system who could help out their NHL roster.
Some of their highly ranked prospects are getting closer, while others are disappointing.
There are some interesting players in the Penguins developmental system who could help this club. No matter if they are currently in the AHL, WHL, or somewhere else, Pittsburgh will do their best to ice the best lineup possible each and every night. They have talent in their system, and some might join the big leagues sooner rather than later. Even if some might take longer than others to make it.
Pittsburgh Penguins top prospects are already underway in their respective seasons
Harrison Brunicke, 2024 2nd Round Pick, AHL: 4 GP 0-1-1
It's only four games into the AHL season, but Harrison Brunicke isn't off to a hot start. He has only produced one assist, but his NHL future still seems to be bright within the organization. The Penguins have too many right shot defensemen to see Brunicke get a realistic shot this year, unless injuries pile up.
The young defender needs to be the AHL team's top defender to finally get to Pittsburgh next season.
Bill Zonnon, 2025 1st Round Pick, AHL: 4 GP 3-2-5
Things continue to look up for Bill Zonnon after a tough start to last year. He struggled with an injury, but he rebounded well and put up terrific numbers in the AHL playoffs. Zonnon is a player the Penguins appear thrilled about and his start to the season has been great. Through four games of action, he has three goals, two assists, which is good enough for five points on the early campaign.
Will Horcoff, 2025 1st Round Pick, NCAA: 4 GP 2-2-4
Another 2025 first rounder enters the mix here, and he's coming off a magnificent season. Will Horcoff missed training camp with the Penguins due to injury, but he's back to a strong start with the Wolverines once again. He's back to a point per game player once again after sinking two goals and getting two helpers through four games of action. Horcoff remains a top prospect for the club.
Owen Pickering, 2022 1st Round Pick, AHL: 4 GP 1-0-1
Time is starting to run out when it comes to Owen Pickering finally making it as a long-term NHL defender. For one reason or another the current regime in Pittsburgh doesn't seem excited with his game and haven't given him a proper shot at the big leagues.
Pickering must have a superb season in the AHL if he wants to make the Penguins roster and not be labeled as a draft bust.
Rutger McGroarty, 2022 1st Round Pick (trade), AHL: 4 GP 2-3-5
Another player starting to flirt with draft bust territory is Rutger McGoarty. His start to the AHL season has been fantastic, but he needs to show he can produce at the NHL level whenever he gets called up. It's a shame Pittsburgh has too many forwards on their top roster than they know how to deal with. This should be the year where McGoarty gets a long NHL look, but that might not happen.
Liam Ruck, 2026 1st Round Pick, WHL: 5 GP 2-3-5
After becoming the Penguins top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Liam Ruck is off to a hot start to the WHL campaign. Both he and his twin brother are doing positive things. Both prospects are also far away from challenging for an NHL roster spot. Expect them to continue to develop in the lower leagues for another couple of years before they get a realistic shot to make some noise.
Joel Blomqvist, 2020 2nd Round Pick, AHL: 2 GP 0.917 save percentage, 1.97 GAA, 1-0-1
With Sergei Murashov in Pittsburgh, this is the time for someone like Joel Blomqvist to take the reins in the AHL. If he can prove to be a strong starter in the minor leagues this season, then he should have a shot at becoming a tandem with Murashov in the NHL next year. Blomqvist is 24, and it seems like now or never when it comes to him emerging as a quality goaltender.
Tristan Broz, 2021 2nd Round Pick, AHL: 4 GP 1-2-3
One prospect who has been lost in the shuffle recently has been Tristan Broz. He has been in the AHL for three seasons now, and it's time the Penguins figure out what he brings to the table. He has been a solid minor league hockey player throughout his young career but has rarely gotten a look at the NHL level. If injuries start to stack up more, Broz could be one of the first players they call.
Mikhail Ilyin, 2023 5th Round Pick, AHL: 4 GP 1-2-3
He was a fifth-round pick three years ago, but Mikhail Ilyin is an intriguing prospect in the Penguins system. Ilyin is entering his first full-time stint in the AHL after playing in Russia for many years. He produced a sensational playoff for the Penguins AHL affiliate last year and will hope to carry that success over to this year. Thus far, Ilyin is finding early success with three points in four games.
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