Jan 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering (38) skates up ice with the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/76e6c65f-16ba-4031-86af-83c8bd2e17f0.jpeg] Jan 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering (38) skates up ice with the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins. With more talent in the system than they've had in recent memory, the Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. We will take a look at how some of the organization's top defensive prospects are faring right now in our March prospects update. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HARRISON BRUNICKE Oct 4, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke (45) skates with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfhkLI51KFWTpyX5SXsaniON1KfLy-P81GGkIFuQuRtSKdUey3OfDog7GQi1Ypm9rdk3FJwZCQ6HiGYMQqdZEnqjmVutX4ZBGum1lYJPeXXCPzD_OWoizAz9eCmqunhooIoQaSB?key=wrb3wo5NC7TWOWgLm3FQt1dn] Oct 4, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke (45) skates with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) Despite missing more than two months due to a wrist fracture sustained on Nov. 14 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-defensive-prospect-sustains-fracture-will-miss-considerable-time], Brunicke hasn't missed a beat this season. The 18-year-old blueliner registered five goals and 30 points in 41 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL this season, and this followed a marvelous training camp that saw him make it all the way to final cuts. Unfortunately, his production wasn't enough to help elevate the Blazers to the postseason, but that may have been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Because the Blazers' season is over, the 2024 second-round pick (44th overall) is expected to be recalled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - to aid the team in its Calder Cup run, which was clinched yesterday in an 4-3 overtime win against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Brunicke's skating, smarts, mobility, and ability to get inside opponents at both end of the rink are the tenets of his game, and if he bulks up a bit more and adds some size to his 6-foot-3 frame, he will be the complete package. Penguins' fans should be very excited about Brunicke, as he is - arguably - their best prospect, period. And honestly? Yes, he's on track to get the call to WBS - but it wouldn't be all that shocking to see him get a few games in Pittsburgh by the end of the season instead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OWEN PICKERING Jan 5, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering (38) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images) [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXez-hNrN3MjFQCC6JkvRvTmHEvUm5JOqkhYQ3OdJ9RrMTGWzQhGzEFnr4ZFDKQQgJvh30DlijMQgj5NU2-dSxigMU0oRXdXPMyw0pFm4n2KQK5uz4xzJnAWqkII5BUQBp8hg-_e?key=wrb3wo5NC7TWOWgLm3FQt1dn] Jan 5, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering (38) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images) After a 25-game stint in Pittsburgh earlier this season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-call-up-former-first-round-pick], Pickering was re-assigned to WBS in January for development purposes. And although he saw a bit of an adjustment period back to the AHL, the first-round pick in 2022 (21st overall) certainly has been helping contribute to the cause in WBS. Pickering may only have two goals and nine points in 39 AHL games this season, but his game is rounding out in other areas. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound left blueliner is developing more of a shutdown game, which is something that Pittsburgh fans saw glimpses of during his NHL stint. It'd be nice to see more production come around for Pickering, which could happen eventually. Defensemen - big, lanky ones, in particular - tend to take a bit longer to develop than other players. Patience will be the key with Pickering, but he's already starting to round out a lot of the details that the organization wanted to see out of him. It's fair to expect him to be on the NHL roster full-time in 2025-26. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EMIL PIENINIEMI Aug 2, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; Finland's defenseman Emil Pieniniemi (9) celebrates a power play goal against Canada with teammates on the bench during the second period of the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena. (David Reginek-Imagn Images) [https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf8r6uDg_N_Tk2NvEVuitxwXeRw66FMxgrlaKEpeMy21o0TqRsyRkWbnzZFKvHlpduHe1AH4SjVfD0oOff8JzfHl3GWCbfY5gvS80q5yHTtXF1uJU0SSvxMN08-lQInfJvB_044wQ?key=wrb3wo5NC7TWOWgLm3FQt1dn] Aug 2, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; Finland's defenseman Emil Pieniniemi (9) celebrates a power play goal against Canada with teammates on the bench during the second period of the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena. (David Reginek-Imagn Images) Pieniniemi, 20, continues to impress quite a bit this season in the OHL. In 60 games with the Kingston Frontenacs, the 2023 third-round pick (91st overall) registered 10 goals and 60 points, and he and his team will play the Sudbury Wolves in the first round of the 2025 OHL playoffs. He finished sixth in OHL scoring among defenseman, and he helped lead Finland to silver at the World Junior Championship [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/three-penguins-prospects-headed-to-quarterfinals-at-world-juniors] at the turn of the new year. After being drafted primarily for his defensive and play-killing instincts, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound defenseman has developed a potent offensive game as well, which has really helped his stock rise within the organization and within prospect rankings. He will not be eligible for junior hockey next season, so Pieniniemi will likely play in the AHL. And - depending on how far the Frontenacs go in the postseason - it's not out-of-the-question that he joins Brunicke in playing for WBS by the end of this season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINN HARDING Two slots behind Pieniniemi in OHL scoring this season was defenseman Finn Harding (seven goals, 57 points in 67 games), who was a re-entry seventh-round draft selection (223rd overall) by the Penguins in 2024. Like Pieniniemi and the Frontenacs, Harding's Brampton Steelheads will vye for the OHL championship this spring, and they will take on the Oshawa Generals in the first round. His offensive game has taken strides this season, and this adds to an already-steady presence on the blueline as a reliable defender on the rush and with his gap control. Becoming a regular at the NHL level is more of a longshot for Harding than it is for the players mentioned above. But he continues to prove - at least, so far - that his value exceeds his re-draft positioning. If Harding can really hone his two-way game and improve his skating, he may very well be a reliable bottom-pairing NHL defenseman sometime in the future. And, at the end of the day, having defensive depth certainly doesn't hurt the Penguins - especially on the right side, where they are thinner on organizational depth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHASE PIETILA Michigan Tech Huskies defenseman Chase Pietila. (Geoffrey M. Miller - Michigan Tech Athletics) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a0bea798-4793-45b0-b76c-94908783c9ba.png] Michigan Tech Huskies defenseman Chase Pietila. (Geoffrey M. Miller - Michigan Tech Athletics) Pietila's impressive collegiate season with the Michigan Tech Huskies earned him an entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 9 [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-sign-chase-pietila-to-entry-level-deal]. He registered seven goals and 22 points in 36 games - as well as 32 blocked shots - for the Huskies, and he was also named the Central States Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Defensive Defenseman of the Year [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/recently-signed-penguins-prospect-wins-collegiate-award]. The 6-foot-2, 186-pound blueliner was drafted in the fourth round (111th overall) by the Penguins in 2024. Across two seasons with the Huskies, Pietila has put up 10 goals and 44 points in 76 NCAA games. Although he doesn't have one particular toolset or skill that stands out, Pietila - like Harding - is a reliable defender. His most likely path to the NHL will be in a shutdown role, and this is something the Penguins could use on the right side of their blueline. At 21 years old, Pietila will, presumably, play in WBS next season. He has already played in two games for the team this season and will be around for the playoff run. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DANIEL LAATSCH Laatsch, 23, has spent the past three seasons playing for the University of Wisconsin. The left defenseman was a seventh-round selection (215th overall) by the Penguins in 2021, and over four seasons with the Badgers, he registered six goals and 26 points and just 18 total penalty minutes. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Laatsch certainly knows how to use his frame to his advantage, but a lot of the details in his game still need refinement. He could also develop a bit more of a physical element to his game. Nonetheless, he earned a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on Mar. 10 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/penguins-sign-2021-draft-pick-to-entry-level-contract]. Laatsch should be a solid organizational depth signing for the Penguins, but there is still room for growth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ISAAC BELLIVEAU Sep 25, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Isaac Belliveau (78) moves the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0c35917d-0e22-4a96-a010-d2994b114bba.jpeg] Sep 25, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Isaac Belliveau (78) moves the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images) It has been a season of ups and downs for Belliveau, who was a fifth-round pick (154th overall) in 2021 by the Penguins. He has spent time in both the AHL and the ECHL, registering three goals and 11 points in 16 games with the Wheeling Nailers and one goal and seven points in 22 games with WBS. Although Belliveau's main draw to his game is on the offensive side, he still needs to work on some of the defensive details. He has been in and out of the lineup while with the AHL squad, so he is currently stationed in the ECHL for development and for the opportunity to play every day. Given the rich defensive prospect pool in the Penguins' system, Belliveau will have to take some major strides in 2025-26 to have a shot at cracking the NHL lineup with Pittsburgh. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
