Under the Radar Penguins To Watch at Prospect Challenge
The Pittsburgh Penguins will have plenty of interesting prospects to watch at the upcoming challenge.
With roster announced for the Annual Prospects Challenge, the Pittsburgh Penguins have their obvious highlights. Brayden Yager, Sam Poulin, and Joel Blomqvist will catch a lot of eyes, but what about the rest of the Penguins’ lineup?
Here are a few under the radar prospects to keep an eye on during the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo.
Lukas Svejkovsky
A 2020 fourth round selection for the Penguins, Svejkovsky has a chance at being a NHL forward in the near future. He stuck out as a scoring threat in his final two seasons of juniors, averaging over a point per game. His first professional season was just about the opposite, full of struggle and adjustments.
After bouncing in and out of the lineup, he ended the year with just three goals and 15 points over 47 games in the AHL. He is looking to develop his scoring touch at the professional level this season, and can get off to a great start with a solid showing at the prospect challenge.
Isaac Belliveau
Behind Pickering, most of the defensive prospects of the Penguins lack potential for top-four minutes. Isaac Belliveau is proving to be an exception to that trend. The fifth rounder from 2021 has NHL size and is already a puck-moving, minute-eating defenseman.
He’s put up three 40+ point seasons in the QMJHL, and has a legitimate shot at being an NHL player in a few more years. He projects to be a second power play defender who can play on the second or third pairing. He’ll get a prime opportunity to display his game during the Prospects Challenge.
Cooper Foster
One of only two prospects drafted by the Penguins in 2023 that will travel to Buffalo, Cooper Foster has a chance to make a name for himself in the organization. The sixth round pick (174th overall was an after thought following the draft, but won’t want to be overlooked following the tournament.
The Penguins highlighted their 2023 Draft with Yager and Emil Pieniniemi but Foster will get his first crack at showing his talent in a Penguins’ uniform.
In 63 games in the OHL in 2022-23, Foster recorded 36 points (19G-17A) as a 17-year-old. He has plenty of room to grow and the Prospect Challenge is the perfect place to begin sprouting.
The Penguins are hopeful some under the radar players shine during the prospect challenge. Anyone can provide that spark for the Penguins and their pipeline, but these few players have an especially good chance of making an impact and getting noticed. With a strong outing, these players could go from diamond in the rough to legitimate NHL prospect.
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