The excitement grows further in Penguins land as the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins added some heavy troops to the roster who are ready for battle as the baby penguins have already cemented their spot in the American Hockey League playoffs and have the chance to have a first round bye.
Yesterday, it was announced by the Pittsburgh Penguins that under the radar prospect Mikhail Ilyin was re-assigned from his KHL team HC Severstal to Wilkes-Barre. Ilyin has secretly been one of the best rookie and under 22 KHL forwards over the last 3 seasons and is now finally making the jump to North American hockey. Ilyin this past season in the KHL in 68 games had a statline of 14 G, 30 A, 44P. He also had three goals and one assist in his first round series before HC Severstal was eliminated in five games.
It was also announced a couple of days ago that defenseman Harrison Brunicke is back at the pro level after his WHL team, the Kamloops Blazers was swept in the first round against the Kelowna Rockets. Brunicke after being re-assigned from the Penguins main roster back in 2025 notched 2G, 22A, 24 points in 24 games with Kamloops which is a point per game pace. Big opportunity for Brunicke to showcase what being sent down to junior again has done for his game.
Wilkes-Barre announced today that Penguins prospects Ryan Miller and Quinn Beauchesne signed Amateur Tryout Agreements that will allow them to join Wilkes for the rest of the season without signing them to their ELC's and burning a year off it. This will also allow both of them to play in Wheeling with the Nailers if assigned there.
Miller is a 2025 fifth round pick, 130th overall from the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League. Miller had an incredible season with Portland with a 30 goal season and 45 assists, 75 points in just 65 games played this season. He will taste his first professional hockey action with Wilkes and will look to carry that great season over to the AHL. Miller is a very gritty and physical forward that will kick you up and down the ice all game long. Miller really likes to get low to absorb contact in all areas, he sticks with the play, has incredible board work to pull the puck off the wall while fighting an defender or even maybe two. Miller I find also loves to go hard to the net, and his defensive game also has strong upside as well that Penguins fans should keep an eye on.
Beauchesne is also a 2025 fifth round draft pick, one of the Penguins two fifth round picks in that draft at 148th overall. Beauchesne is coming off a solid year with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League. The defenseman had himself 7G, 25A, 35 points in 56 games played this season with Guelph. Beauchesne is a mobile skating defenseman that is so strong on his feet and will look to carry his strong play-style over to the pro level. There is still so much to uncover about Beauchesne.
It will be very eye opening to see how these four players are growing and have grown and what is their game gonna look like as they transition to the AHL for the rest of the regular season and playoffs for Wilkes.