As September rolls in, you can almost feel the buzz in the air—Penguins hockey is just around the corner, and I know I'm not the only one counting down the days until fall.
Before the regular season begins, fans have a chance to get an early look at the future stars of the team as the Penguins return for the 2024 Prospects Challenge. This year’s tournament promises to be particularly intriguing, with a roster full of promising young talents to watch.
The 2024 Prospects Challenge will take place from September 13-16 at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York.
This annual event is a crucial opportunity for the Pittsburgh Penguins to showcase their top prospects in a highly competitive environment against other NHL teams.
Not only does it provide valuable experience for these young players, but it also offers fans a glimpse of what the future might hold for the franchise.
These teams are in the 2024 Prospect Challenge
This year, six teams will battle it out in the tournament:
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Buffalo Sabres (host)
- Boston Bruins
- Columbus Blue Jackets (new to the event)
- New Jersey Devils
- Ottawa Senators
2024 Penguins Prospects Challenge schedule
The Penguins have some exciting matchups ahead. Here’s when they’ll be hitting the ice:
- Friday, Sept. 13: Penguins vs. Boston at 12 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 14: Penguins vs. Ottawa at 12 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 16: Penguins vs. Buffalo at 5 p.m.
Source: NHL.com - All times Eastern Standard
Top Penguins prospects to watch
The Penguins' prospect roster is packed with talent this year, featuring several intriguing names that are sure to draw attention.
Leading the list is Brayden Yager, who made a significant impact for Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship. Among the standouts are also Tanner Howe, a forward, and Harrison Brunicke, a defenseman—both recent Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks and definitely players to watch.
Then there's Owen Pickering, a defenseman who has shown flashes of potential but is still seeking consistency. With the possibility of seeing NHL ice time this season, Pickering is certainly one to keep an eye on. Below is the full Penguins prospect roster.
Forwards: 2024 Penguins prospects roster
Player | # | Pos. |
|---|---|---|
Jack Beck | 43 | RW |
Tristan Broz | 26 | C |
Atley Calvert | 84 | C |
Justin Cloutier | 51 | RW |
Mathieu De St. Phalle | 54 | RW |
Cooper Foster | 61 | C |
Avery Hayes | 85 | RW |
Tanner Howe | 74 | LW |
Beau Jelsma | 76 | LW |
Gabe Klassen | 64 | C |
Ville Koivunen | 41 | C |
Logan Pietila | 49 | RW |
Vasily Ponomarev | 11 | C |
Brayden Yager | 62 | C |
Defensemen: 2024 Penguins prospects roster
Player | # | Pos. |
|---|---|---|
Isaac Belliveau | 78 | LD |
Scooter Brickey | 63 | RD |
Harrison Brunicke | 45 | RD |
Caeden Carlisle | 77 | LD |
Finn Harding | 50 | RD |
Donovan McCoy | 56 | RD |
Owen Pickering | 38 | LD |
Emil Pieniniemi | 79 | LD |
Goalies: 2024 Penguins prospects roster
Player | # | Catch |
|---|---|---|
Taylor Gauthier | 33 | R |
Sergei Murashov | 1 | R |
Charlie Schenkel | 60 | R |
Where to watch the Penguins 2024 Prospect Challenge
In 2023, the Pittsburgh Penguins' games during the Prospects Challenge were streamed live on the team's official website, allowing fans to catch all the action directly online.
This streaming option provided easy access to watch the future stars of the Penguins as they competed against other NHL prospects.
As of now, there hasn’t been any official announcement regarding the streaming options for the 2024 Prospects Challenge. Fans eager to watch the games should keep an eye on the Penguins' official website and social media channels for updates as the event approaches.
This lack of current information means that, at the time of writing, it's unclear whether the streaming arrangements from 2023 will be repeated for this year’s tournament.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more in-depth coverage and updates on the Penguins Prospects Challenge.