As we approach the preseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there is no secret that they could use some help. Their roster isn't improved, and it's safe to say they should make another signing or two in free agency or consider the trade market before training camp opens. They have cap space to work with, but as they try to blend a mixture of contention and retooling, things could get difficult.
Perhaps the Penguins decide not to bring other faces onto the team. That would point to them hoping some players who were in the AHL last season would step up and win some jobs in the big club's lineup. One name who refuses to get mentioned going into training camp as someone who could save a lot of headaches is Owen Pickering.
He could help the Penguins by winning a spot.
A former first round pick, Pickering is someone who should either be in the NHL by now or pushing for a spot. Yes, he was selected by Ron Hextall, but when he has gotten minor opportunities in Pittsburgh, Pickering has found ways to succeed. The young defenseman is only 22 years old, plus he's a left shot. Maybe he could help fix the ongoing conundrum in the defensive pairings.
Pittsburgh Penguins could see defenseman Owen Pickering blow past his meager expectations
No matter how you slice it, the Penguins have a massive issue they must resolve before the season begins. They don't have clear pairings when it comes to their defensive group. They hold four right shot defensemen under contract heading into the preseason process. That heavily unbalances the pairings as Pittsburgh only has one legit left shot defender, two if you consider Ryan Graves.
It seems like the Penguins are prepared to shove recently signed Trevor Van Riemsdyk to the left side, even though he is more effective on the right. Maybe that will work out long-term, but in reality, swapping Van Riemsdyk to his offside has shown lesser results throughout his career compared to when he lines up on the right.
No matter if the veteran lines up on the left side or not, Pittsburgh could still use another left-handed defender.
That is where Owen Pickering enters the list of possibilities of taking a roster spot. He is still young, but a strong performance at training camp could certainly give his NHL career a jump start. The Penguins have oddly handled the former first round pick since Kyle Dubas took over. He doesn't seem too high on Pickering's potential of becoming a solid defenseman going forward.
It's clear that Pickering checks off a lot of boxes on paper for the Penguins going into this season. Hopefully the young player will find a way to earn a spot in the lineup. It would be best for the team's outlook both now and into the future. If Dubas wants to put a younger lineup on the ice, Pickering makes the most sense among the young defenders to make the roster and make an impact.
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