Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.
With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization.
Next on our list is No. 15, and we shift back to the forward front to highlight a player relatively new to the organization. That player is young Swedish forward Melvin Fernstrom.
#15: F Melvin Fernstrom
Fernstrom, 19, was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the return for defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O'Connor on Jan. 31. Selected in the third round (93rd overall) in 2024 by the Canucks, he is a bit of an intriguing prospect, and Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas did express that Fernstrom was someone Pittsburgh was interested in at the time of the draft.
So far, he hasn't disappointed.
Fernstrom was named the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) Rookie of the Year in 2024-25 after registering eight goals and 17 points in 48 games for Orebro HK. Even if those numbers don't jump out on the stat sheet, they were impressive ones for a rookie playing in Sweden's top professional hockey league.
"Really good kid. Really like him," Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "A lot of offensive potential. I think his shot is elite. He has the ability to find space in the offensive zone is really high-end for a kid that age. His coaches were really impressed with his ability to absorb information from the older players on his team, and although the team didn't do really well, they felt like he kept getting better and better.
"So, to be put in with the big team and be able to produce, I think it was a really good season for him."
Penguins Forward Prospect Named SHL Rookie Of The Year
For the second time this week, a <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins'</a> prospect has earned top Swedish Hockey League (SHL) honors.
His game is raw, but there is a lot of potential. He has a deceptive release that jumps off his stick, and he can hit his spots with high accuracy, giving him the attributes of a sniper. He has good offensive instincts and, despite lacking footspeed and having some skating issues, Fernstrom's ability to read plays, create space, and distribute the puck give him the ability to work around whatever he lacks in the skating department.
That said, his defensive game is a bit lacking, and he will likely have to continue to improve his skating in order to have hopes of making an impact at the NHL level. Penguins' prospect Rutger McGroarty had similar issues with his skating that have been somewhat rectified, so hopefully, Fernstrom can do a similar thing.
Fernstrom is set to return to the SHL for the 2025-26 season, where he can continue to develop. The Penguins' organization likes what they see so far, and they think Orebro HK is a good spot for him to develop.
"I think it's a good setup, a good coaching staff, and a good opportunity for him to keep building on the ice time and the role, and we think it's a good spot for him," Kostopoulos said. "I think his production can keep growing, his role can keep growing. His skating, I think, can take steps as he builds his strength and speed. I think he can be a real offensive threat. Very dynamic. He's got a really wicked shot.
"So, if he keeps building that, his ability to get pucks off the wall and attack the middle of the ice, I think he's got a lot of potential."
If all goes well in his development, he could really end up being a good find for the Penguins. The raw talent is there for Fernstrom, so it will all come down to whether or not he can round out his overall game and fine-tune some of the rawness of it.
Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defensive Prospect Continues To Grow All-Around Game
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> have shifted the focus to youth and development.
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