It appears that a decision on Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/]' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke's future with the NHL club has not yet been made. Despite being a healthy scratch for the Penguins' last three games and for seven of the team's last 10 games, the Penguins elected to take the 19-year-old Brunicke to Stockholm, Sweden with them for the upcoming NHL Global Series [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/what-to-know-nhl-global-series-feat-the-pittsburgh-penguins-and-nashville-predators], which will feature two games between the Penguins and Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] this weekend. The Penguins' top defensive prospect played in his ninth NHL game a week ago in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, meaning he is one NHL game away from activating his three-year entry-level contract. Fellow teenage rookie Ben Kindel - a center drafted 11th overall this summer - has already surpassed the 10-game mark and triggered his entry-level contract. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Brunicke - selected 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024 - made the Penguins' roster out of training camp and has one goal on the season to go along with a minus-4. He has had some learning moments in recent games in trying to adjust to NHL speed, even if he has shown flashes of high-ceiling potential during his first taste of NHL action. The Penguins have a decision to make with regards to Brunicke [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/what-will-the-penguins-do-with-top-defensive-prospect-harrison-brunicke], who could be re-assigned to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers (WHL), for the rest of their 2025-26 season. If re-assigned, Brunicke would not be eligible to return to the AHL or NHL until the conclusion of Kamloops' season. What To Know: NHL Global Series Feat. The Pittsburgh Penguins And Nashville Predators [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8e23f6d1-e78f-4c3d-b62c-7d5081cdd4fb.jpeg] What To Know: NHL Global Series Feat. The Pittsburgh Penguins And Nashville Predators The 2025-26 NHL Global Series is finally here, and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators">Nashville Predators</a> are gearing up for their two-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/what-to-know-nhl-global-series-feat-the-pittsburgh-penguins-and-nashville-predators] Should he stay, Brunicke would activate his NHL contract, and another date to keep an eye on would be Jan. 3 - as that would mark the 40th game for the Penguins, who would lose a year of team control if they decide to keep Brunicke and Kindel beyond that date. The Penguins also have another option in the immediacy, as Brunicke would be eligible for a 14-day or five-game maximum AHL conditioning stint should he be healthy-scratched for both games in Sweden. Brunicke can also be lent to Team Canada for World Juniors in late December, and that loan would not affect his NHL eligibility. Opinion: Despite Struggles, Brunicke Should Remain With Penguins [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c58423dc-2ddb-4666-aab8-212b8ce25806.jpeg] Opinion: Despite Struggles, Brunicke Should Remain With Penguins The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made a flurry of moves Tuesday, sending young blueliner Owen Pickering back to the AHL, placing three others on injured reserve, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-call-up-3-players-announce-several-roster-moves">and recalling two veterans and top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov from the AHL</a>. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/opinion-despite-struggles-brunicke-should-remain-with-penguins] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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!
