Will one of Ty Smith or P.O. Joseph have to be involved in a deal for Erik Karlsson? At development camp this summer, Owen Pickering arrived with a bit more swagger than his first go-round at rookie camp in 2022. Why wouldn't he? The Pittsburgh Penguins' first round pick one year ago has grown leaps and bounds already, and that is not just a reference to the 15-20 pounds of muscle he's put on in the last calendar year. Since being drafted, he completed his first season as captain of his junior team, the Swift Current Broncos, improved in every possible way and statistical category, and got his first taste of professional hockey with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins have to be incredibly pleased with Pickering's progress in his post-draft season, giving the organization hope that they may be developing a quality NHL defenseman. But what is the ceiling for Pickering? Let's take a deeper look into his game to get a sense of what exactly the Pens are seeing in their top defensive prospect. Puck Distributor The thing about Pickering's game that stands out is his puck moving abilities. It's the trait in his game that feels most translatable to today's NHL, and is most likely what will continue to propel him up the ranks. And not only is it his top skill, it's also continuing to improve. This past season was an offensive leap for Pickering, as he wracked up 36 assists and 45 points. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1FkM3OO-3c[/embed] In nearly every play, you'll notice Pickering's smooth puck moving ability. He's the number one defender on his junior team, so he plays in every situation, including the team's first power play. This play [https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx128QOnwCd_JEpjWPPtWXibszp-36Tx9W] specifically demonstrates his calm and collected passing skills. After the centerman wins a bouncing puck back to him, Pickering corrals the puck with his skate and allows his teammates to set up their play before distributing the puck to the winger. His patience allows the goal to come together and earns him the secondary assist. Smooth Skater and Rush Leader When you look at what a player like Kris Letang does for the Penguins, there is no one else on the depth chart who skates excellently and can start the breakout like he can. While Pickering may not be a future number one defenseman, his smooth skating and rush joining capabilities are also parts of his game that feel nearly NHL ready. Pickering's edge work is not only impressive for his size, but puts him at a constant advantage that he utilizes on the ice. He loves to misdirect and trick defenders using shoulder fakes or hip turns to get a defender moving one way before quickly pivoting the opposite way to escape pressure. He's also surprisingly quick, as long as he keeps his feet moving (as he can be prone to being flat footed in the defensive zone), and finds another gear when he is starting the breakout. He frequently uses his skating to jump into the rush and activate in the offensive zone as well, leading to nearly every one of his nine goals this past season. He knows when to pinch and push the play, highlighted by this game-winning, overtime goal. As the forward holds onto the puck, Pickering identifies the gap and uses his speed to become a passing option in the center of the zone. He takes the pass and buries a goal to win the game for his team. It's not just in overtime when his breakout skills shine. No matter the situation, Pickering excels at identifying the right times to pinch and support and is often creates offensive chances with his astute decision making. Take a look at this goal [https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxnyMkfBBs2rsYOGvd6DO0xgYBU9ER_yqz]. As a Swift Current forward pursues the puck, Pickering hustles up ice to support his teammate. He skates strong towards the net, looking for a rebound or loose puck, and jams home a put-back goal. It's a result of his intelligence and offensive IQ, but mostly a reward for his hard work, something that you see every shift from Pickering. Far From Finished Product Pickering is an exciting player, but he is not quite NHL ready. While he's bulked up since his draft year, he still needs to hone his defensive skillset and bring more consistency. One of the areas that stands out as needing improvement is his skating in the defensive zone. For as fluid and alert as he is with the puck, he can be quite the opposite while defending. He can be guilty of puck watching and over-relying on his long reach to keep him in the play. Similarly, he can also be caught flat footed while defending, which can lead to forwards sneaking behind him or using that against him. Where it was especially noticeable was when he got his brief audition in Wilkes-Barre once his junior season concluded. The constant motion of opposing offenses, combined with the more physical board play overwhelmed Pickering and forced him to adjust. He looked more comfortable by the seventh and eighth games, showing signs of growing through it, before the AHL season came to an end. Projection As it currently stands, Pickering has a legitimate shot to be a 20-30 point NHL defenseman for the Penguins. His defensive liabilities and lack of a deadly slap shot are holding him back from being a true number one defender, but his puck moving and skating abilities are nearly enough to offset those concerns. And there is plenty of time for him to keep rising. In addition to his offensive contributions, he currently projects to be a defenseman that plays 17-20 minutes a night and moves the puck with purpose and intelligence. He'll also be able to give you time on the power play and penalty kill, but to what effect is still unclear. Either way, the Pens are almost certainly adding a dependable left-shot defenseman in the next two to three seasons to their top six. Looking ahead to this upcoming season, Pickering is most likely headed back to Swift Current and a final season of maturing in the CHL unless he steals an NHL roster spot out of training camp. With the latter being unlikely, the Pens need him to take another step offensively in juniors, but also show signs of being a more defensively engaged and physically demanding player. If he can keep progressing, especially his defensive toolkit, the Penguins may have a home grown and developed top four defender for the first time since Olli Maata. At only 19-years-old and with so much more room for growth, it's hard to not be excited at his potential. Hopefully Pickering impresses in training camp before dominating the junior ranks and finding AHL success again. The Pens are banking on him to keep progressing and be a piece of the next generation of hockey success in Pittsburgh. With his skills, determination, and a little bit more swagger, he just might become that piece for the Penguins. Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more! 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