On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their annual Prospect Development Camp, which features 48 players both from the Penguins' system and outside of it.
And fans and media got their first glimpse at some of the new faces as well.
All 13 of the Penguins' new draftees took the ice for the first time in uniform - including first-round picks Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, and Will Horcoff - along with some development camp veterans.
Other notable names on the camp roster include defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Emil Pieniniemi - as well as forwards Mikhail Ilyin and Melvin Fernstrom, who each played overseas last season.
The players were split into three groups - Team Stevens, Team Patrick, and Team Johnston - with each of the three first-rounders being put into separate groups. There was a lot to like about what was shown by prospects on the camp's inaugural day, and - given where the Penguins are at organizationally - there is a ton of excitement surrounding this year's camp.
Here are three standouts from Day One:
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Harrison Brunicke
Out of everyone today, the player who stood out most was Brunicke.
His skating is so incredibly smooth, his puckhandling skills were on display, and he led the way for his defensive group consisting of Chase Pietila, Kalle Kangas, and 2025 draftees Charlie Trethewey and Brady Peddle.
I found myself trying very hard not to compare him to everyone else. But, Brunicke looked like he didn't belong here in the very best way. He just looks miles ahead of everyone else on the blue line at this camp, and it's only Day One.
This kid should have a real shot at the NHL roster this season. And - as he told NHL.com's Wes Crosby - he is absolutely making it his goal this year to make the big leagues out of training camp.
"Oh yeah," he said in response to being asked about whether his personal goal is to crack the NHL roster.
Brunicke is going to be a player to watch throughout development camp, training camp, and for the years to come. The more I watch this kid, the more I think he is really going to translate into something special at the NHL level. And, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, he will also receive an invite to Team Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase, which features the best of the best Canadian junior prospects.
Speaking of juniors: I'm not entirely convinced that juniors would be the best thing for Brunicke's development next season. Some think he isn't ready for the NHL, and that's understandable. But there are a plethora of reasons why going back to Kamloops may be an even worse path.
More to come on that later. Regardless, keep an eye on him, folks.
Bill Zonnon
Fans are going to love Bill Zonnon.
First thing's first: His shot is more impressive than I realized. It really pops off his stick, and he seems to be able to pick his spots. I was also impressed with his tenacity, anticipation, and work ethic.
But the thing that stood out most to me is that he always seemed to be in the right place. He picked up on the drills, he adapted quicky, and he read and anticipated plays like the back of his hand while working with players he's never skated with before.
And - by all accounts - he seems like a very coachable player.
This comparison has been made elsewhere, but he reminds me a bit of Patric Hornqvist. Just like with everyone else today, the sample size was small, so getting carried away prematurely would be futile. But some of that feistiness, that competitive fire, and those scoring-area smarts that he is known for were on display.
I think this guy has real potential to become an impact middle-six player for the Penguins. His game looked pretty mature in comparison to his peers, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out for the rest of camp.
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Travis Hayes
Hayes - a 2025 fourth-round pick (105th overall) for the Penguins - stood out today, but not in quite the same way as the others.
No, he wasn't skating circles around everyone like Brunicke was. No, he wasn't "wowing" with his shot and hockey smarts like Zonnon.
But he was getting physical and competing hard in front of the goaltender.
Hayes was abrasive, scrappy, and making use of his frame - at just 5-foot-11 - to gain positioning at the net front. Like Zonnon, you can see that competitive fire. But there was a little extra edge to Hayes's game.
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On several accounts, he plays the game pretty similarly to his brother, Avery, who has climbed his way up the prospect ranks after going undrafted and earned a two-year entry-level contract at the conclusion of last season. And, according to director of player development Tom Kostopoulos, more guys like Avery Hayes in the system - and his literal blood brother, nonetheless - is a really good thing for the Penguins.
"It's pretty impressive what Avery Hayes did since he signed his AHL contract, and he earned the NHL contract," Kostopoulos said. "We're talking to these kids about coachability, competitiveness, and work ethic, and when you think of those things, that's what Avery Hayes did.
"And getting to know his brother... I don't know how many of you watched him out there, but, man, I liked the competitiveness. He seemed to be able to understand what we're trying to tell him, and the compete is something that seems to be built into that family's DNA."
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Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News
