The Pittsburgh Penguins are up in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Penguins’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
The Penguins are building toward the future. Whether they want to call it a rebuild or not is up to them, but the reality is that the focus of Kyle Dubas is on acquiring draft picks and prospects. That's why they had an NHL-high 13 picks in this year's NHL draft and created stockpiles of picks for the next couple of years as well.
As much as this team wants to compete with Sidney Crosby still performing at an elite level, it may not be feasible over the next couple of years. Maybe next year at this time, we will be talking about Crosby mentoring another young phenom in Gavin McKenna. Until then, let's focus on the rebuilt prospect pipeline for the Penguins.
Last year's scoring leader on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was Ville Koivunen, one of the key pieces acquired a year earlier in the Jake Guentzel trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. Koivunen is a highly intelligent forward with some versatility in his game as a scorer. He is a creative playmaker who doesn’t shy away from making high-skill plays. Koivunen would be an asset in the NHL this season as the 22-year-old has the pace and puck skill to add an element of flair. His speed could help mitigate the slowing feet of Evgeni Malkin, or his intelligence could be an asset alongside Crosby.
Tanner Howe likely won’t be playing much of his first AHL season after undergoing ACL repair surgery. Despite the injury, Howe is a feisty competitor who gets involved physically when the opportunity presents itself while also playing a chain-connector role offensively. A year off is going to be tough, but Howe is a battler on the ice, so now he’ll have to prove his resolve off the ice.
With a solid rookie AHL season, Tristan Broz fully returned to form after falling off a bit when he started college. Broz works his tail off and plays a physical game while being an excellent shooter. He may never be a top-six fixture, but he’s a crash-and-bang winger who loves to get involved and could be a really solid third-liner.
When the Penguins acquired Rutger McGroarty last year, they were hoping he would jump into the NHL lineup immediately and provide some offensive support for their aging top guns. Unfortunately for them, the pace of the game proved to be a bit too much for him early in the season, and he was sent back to the AHL. When he returned later in the season, McGroarty looked much more like the shark in the water, off-puck menace he’s been known to be. He still occasionally had some issues keeping up, but he took efficient routes and was quick to make decisions with the puck, whether he was looking to pass or shoot. This could be the year he fully takes the step.
Acquired in February, Melvin Fernstrom is an intelligent, skilled player who’s been incredible at the Swedish junior level and looked solid in the top-tier Swedish League. Fernstrom reads the play and makes smart decisions with the puck. He needs to get a bit faster and play at a higher pace, but there is a lot to like from a chain-linking perspective. Whether it’s getting to a spot to shoot or making quick passes as soon as he gets the puck, Fernstrom’s game is based around his tactical IQ.
On the back end, Owen Pickering headlines the group. Although he’s surpassed the rookie threshold, Pickering still needs to establish himself. He’s still a work in progress, but he did play 25 games in the NHL this past season. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound 21-year-old’s physical gifts are impressive, with excellent size, mobility and the puck skill of a much smaller player. His decision-making is still a bit spotty at both ends of the ice, but there is so much potential if he can refine a few of the little things.
Emil Pieniniemi did a bit of everything for OHL Kingston after playing pro hockey in Finland in 2023-24. His physicality showed up in the defensive end, but his puck-moving ability on the breakout and in the offensive zone was a true sign of development. His skating must improve a bit, especially when escaping forecheckers and evading pressure. He’ll jump into the AHL this season, and it should show just how ready he is for North American pro hockey.
Harrison Brunicke’s raw tools might be as good or better than just about anyone else in Pittsburgh’s defense prospect pipeline. His execution isn’t always on point, but his play is encouraging. He played 10 AHL games this past season and looked like he was in a bit over his head, but that should let him know what to improve on next season in the WHL.
The Pens acquired Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks on July 13. He proved he’s ready for a full-time NHL role after backstopping the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup and winning AHL playoff MVP honors. Silovs has had some excellent moments in the NHL as well, including in the Stanley Cup playoffs just two seasons ago when he took over for an injured Thatcher Demko. He could earn a 50/50 share of the starts in the NHL this season for the Pens, which could help them win a few more games than expected.
Early last season, Joel Blomqvist was the Pens' best goalie – better than Tristan Jarry and the since-traded Alex Nedeljkovic. He couldn’t keep up his play behind a porous defense group, but he showed flashes of success. The Penguins hope that in a year or two, he and Silovs will form a stable tandem in net.
U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season
Ville Koivunen (C/W), Rutger McGroarty (RW), Owen Pickering (D)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 11th overall - Benjamin Kindel, C/RW, Calgary (WHL)
Round 1, 22nd overall - Bill Zonnon, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Round 1, 24th overall - Will Horcoff, C, U. of Michigan (NCAA)
Round 2, 39th overall - Peyton Kettles, D, Swift Current (WHL)
Round 3, 73rd overall - Charlie Trethewey, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
Round 3, 84th overall - Gabriel D'Aigle, G, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
Round 3, 91st overall - Brady Peddle, D, Waterloo (USHL)
Round 4, 105th overall - Travis Hayes, RW, S.S. Marie (OHL)
Round 5, 130th overall - Ryan Miller, C, Portland (WHL)
Round 5, 148th overall - Quinn Beauchesne, D, Guelph (OHL)
Round 5, 154th overall - Jordan Charron, RW, S.S. Marie (OHL)
Round 6, 169th overall - Carter Sanderson, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
Round 7, 201st overall - Kale Dach, C, Sherwood Park (BCHL)
With 13 picks in the draft, including seven inside the top 100, the Penguins were ecstatic with their draft.
The Penguins took WHL forward Benjamin Kindel 11th overall, which was one of the first big surprises of the draft. Kindel has been knocked for his thin frame, but he plays like a dog on a bone with high effort and excellent positioning. His intelligence and play recognition are impressive, but what could make him effective as a pro is his playmaking ability. His passing is nearly elite, spotting players across the ice or slashing behind the defense. Kindel was responsible for some of the most impressive passes in the WHL this past season. The pick is a long-term bet, but this could look really good a few years from now.
There may not be a player with a more impressive work ethic than Bill Zonnon. Despite all the complaints people in hockey have about QMJHL players and the habits they develop in that league, Zonnon plays a game more similar to the OHL and WHL or even the pros.
Mechanically, Zonnon’s skating isn’t pristine, but he moves well and consistently works to get himself into position. He plays with purpose in all three zones, looking to amp up the pace and force opponents into mistakes. Whether he’s closing quickly on the forecheck or chipping the puck to a teammate in the neutral zone and then flying up to support them, Zonnon looks to keep play moving quickly. While he is primarily a playmaker, he does an excellent job of crashing the net and hunting down pucks to get secondary shot chances.
A few picks later, the Penguins took Will Horcoff out of the University of Michigan. Horcoff is a big center who plays a sound defensive game, but he has some room to grow offensively. He jumped into the NCAA after starting the year with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. It was interesting that his best hockey came when he took a step up in levels, really showing his versatility in the college game and even showcasing a bit more as a play facilitator. With some further development at Michigan, he could be a very steady, versatile center in a few years.
In Round 2, the Penguins grabbed Peyton Kettles, a 6-foot-6 right-shot defender who is a play-killing specialist. His best moments come from closing the gap, using his length to disrupt possession and quickly moving the puck to a teammate. His strength along the boards is tough for opponents to deal with – he plasters players to the wall and holds them there while he or a teammate slips the puck free. He’s not flashy, but he’s very effective in his own end, and he can keep the play going when the puck gets to him.
Third-round pick Charlie Trethewey is a do-it-all blueliner who will likely be more defensive-minded in the pro ranks, but his encouraging offensive game shows up in flashes. There may be more runway for him to add offensive layers as he goes the college route, but his mobility and physicality will be staples in his game. He has a nice floor and a ceiling that is intriguing in many ways. He can mirror attackers and close quickly when he sees a bobble or a moment of indecision. Boston University is a great spot for him to continue his development.
It’s a very fun story that goaltender Gabriel D’Aigle comes from the same hometown, Sorel-Tracy, Que., as Penguins great Marc-Andre Fleury. It’s even cooler for D’Aigle that the NHL veteran has become a mentor to him.
There is a lot that must happen if D’Aigle wants to have even half the impact on the Pens that Fleury did, though. D’Aigle has had some pedigree for a few years now, even playing for Canada at the U-18s two years ago. Unfortunately, he’s struggled to take the next step in the QMJHL. He has many of the tools you want to see from a goalie in terms of size and mobility, but he must track the puck better and stay in position more effectively.
Defender Brady Peddle is a heat-seeking missile who loves to crush guys along the boards. Peddle is making the move from the United States League to the QMJHL next season before heading to Michigan State University the year after. In the ‘Q,’ Peddle’s physicality will be a problem for opposing teams because there aren’t many players in the league as violent on the back end as Peddle. It will be really fun to see him try to develop an offensive game in the QMJHL next season because that is the biggest hole in his game at the moment.
When Kyle Dubas was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM, SDPN’s Steve Dangle popularized the saying, “Dubas loves his guys,” when the GM constantly acquired players who played for the Soo Greyhounds. That’s the organization where Dubas got his start.
Well, things haven’t changed much in Pittsburgh, as Greyhounds right winger Travis Hayes went to Pittsburgh in the fourth round, a bit higher than most expected him to go. Hayes is a heavy shooter with a physical edge. He does a good job of working opposing players over along the boards and winning battles as well. There are plenty of defensive details that need ironing out, and he must be more of a playmaker, but this is an interesting pick nonetheless.
Ryan Miller is a hard-working forward who brings a high level of competitiveness and excellent attention to detail on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. He isn’t much of a skill player, but he finds ways to make positive plays through crafty passing and an intensity that goes from battles along the wall to the net front. He has a future as a hunter who takes the puck back for his team.
With their second of three fifth-round picks, the Pens took resourceful defensive blueliner Quinn Beauchesne. He showed off some excellent defensive instincts this past season despite being on a Guelph Storm team that was constantly in its own end. When Beauchesne had the chance, he made good, steady plays on offense. Had Beauchesne been on a better team, he likely would’ve produced more than six goals and 24 points in 49 games. Despite that, this could be quite the pick at 148th overall.
The Penguins took another Greyhound in Jordan Charron, a bit of a raw winger who plays a high-energy puck-pursuit game. He jumped from Jr. A to the OHL when the NCAA changed eligibility rules, and although that only guaranteed him a depth role on the Greyhounds, he was certainly doing everything in his power to play that role to his ful ability. Charron has a physical edge and good speed, which makes him a forechecking menace at times.
Forward Carter Sanderson isn’t on the ice to score goals or generate much offense. His role is to go out there and punish the opposing team by throwing some big hits and playing sound defensive hockey. He’s extremely young for the draft class, just a few days away from being a 2026 draft eligible, so he could have a bit more offensive skill in the tank. At his best, Sanderson is a menace when he’s able to line up his opponents.
Capping off the marathon draft for the Penguins was Kale Dach, a BCHL star who shows some incredible playmaking habits but lacks a physical game. Dach shies away from contact at times and even concedes pucks in corners, relying on his skill to swipe them back from less-skilled, slower defenders. Dach will play with WHL Calgary this upcoming season and then head to Penn State in the NCAA the following year, so this is a bit of a project pick but an interesting swing on skill late.
Strengths
The Penguins have done a great job of gathering right-shot defenders in their prospect pool.
Although their top defense prospect, Pickering, is a left shot, the rest of the top blueliners, for the most part, are right-handed.
Pittsburgh added Kettles, Trethewey and Beachesene at the draft, but they already had a few intriguing players.
Brunicke is a toolsy, athletic defender with plenty of upside. Finn Harding is a defensive blueliner who uses his footwork to cut off play, but he will have to work on moving the puck. Joona Vaisanen is a valuable player in the NCAA, helping Western Michigan win a national title. Although not all of these players will make the NHL, they have options at one of the most pivotal positions, right-side blueliners.
Weaknesses
Beyond the recently drafted Horcoff, there aren’t many legitimate NHL center options.
The depth centers may be good AHLers one day, but unless they significantly improve their skills, they just aren’t projected to be centers in the NHL. Maybe Kindel can fill a role as a pivot with some further development, but it’s not going to be easy for a slightly undersized forward to play down the middle.
The Pens have had the two-headed monster of Crosby and Malkin for almost two decades now, but they will eventually be without those two. They don’t have much coming to fill the holes, so there are questions about the future at center. With the next couple of drafts, the Pens must address that with their plethora of picks.
Hidden Gem: Mikhail Ilyin, LW/RW
Ilyin’s passing is tantalizing at times, finding seams and fitting passes through traffic with ease. He is a tactician at heart, playing chess while others play checkers.
Ilyin is also such a smart player, identifying the next play a step ahead. He’s had two really solid KHL seasons, and although he signed his entry-level contract, he'll remain in Russia for at least one more season.
Ilyin needs to add another layer to his puckhandling and become more aggressive as a goal-scorer, given his seven goals in 64 games this past season. If he can improve in those areas, he could be a really interesting addition to the Pens roster in a few years.
Next Man Up: Arturs Silovs, G
With excellent size and very strong lateral mobility, Silovs will push for the lion’s share of starts in the NHL.
Silovs has big-game ability and makes the big saves when needed. That’s something the Penguins haven’t had since Matt Murray was in his prime. The 6-foot-4 netminder takes up the net and cuts down angles on shooters quite well, telescoping in and out of the net as needed. This is Silovs’ chance to assert himself as a starter for a team that desperately needs consistently capable goaltending.
Penguins' Arturs Silovs Proved He's Ready For A Full-Time NHL Gig In AHL Canucks' Calder Cup Win Shortly after the Abbotsford Canucks began celebrating their Calder Cup championship, a few of the players got to work.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Ville Koivunen, Tanner Howe, Tristan Broz, Mikhail Ilyin, Mac Swanson, Max Graham
C: Will Horcoff, Zam Plante, Ryan Miller, Kale Dach
RW: Benjamin Kindel, Bill Zonnon, Rutger McGroarty, Melvin Fernstrom, Cruz Lucius
LD: Owen Pickering, Brady Peddle, Emil Pieniniemi, Kalle Kangas
RD: Peyton Kettles, Harrison Brunicke, Charlie Trethewey, Quinn Beauchesne, Finn Harding, Joona Vaisanen
G: Arturs Silovs, Joel Blomqvist, Sergei Murashov, Gabriel D’Aigle
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
