When in the early stages of NHL training camp, it's not often wise to read into too much. There are a lot of players at training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] this season. Talent is spread out among groups. Players typically get reps with a lot of different people in the earlygoing. When there is an entirely new coaching staff, that means new systems are adapted, and it's difficult to discern much early on. But one thing that has remained consistent throughout camp practices - and carried into Monday's pre-season-opening 2-1 shootout loss [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-hold-strong-fall-to-canadiens-in-pre-season-shootout] against the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] - is the defensive pairing of prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke. And if folks have been paying attention to the Penguins' prospect pool [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/top-20-penguins-prospects-2025-defenseman-exceeds-expectations-asserts-himself-at-the-top] within the last calendar year, this very well could be a pairing to keep an eye on as the Penguins move toward the future. On Monday, Pickering and Brunicke suited up on the third pairing for the Penguins, and they did not disappoint. Brunicke quarterbacked the second power play unit and registered the secondary assist on Tristan Broz's power play goal in the first period, and Pickering made some key defensive plays throughout the evening. Head coach Dan Muse [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/the-energy-is-through-the-roof-competition-the-focus-in-dan-muse-s-first-nhl-training-camp] was happy with the pairing's performance. "That pair… I thought you saw a lot of good things on both sides of the puck," Muse said. "In the offensive zone, you can see that both guys can get moving a little bit, which creates confusion for the opponent. And there [were] some shifts there where they were really able to do that, some of the shifts where we were able to extend time there in the offensive zone. Also, the puck movement, the breakouts… I think at the beginning of the game, the breakouts were really good, and they were a big part of that.” Pittsburgh Penguins' Group 1 Practice. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c873e86e-5160-4a78-a3f2-dfbcb00764ff.jpeg] Pittsburgh Penguins' Group 1 Practice. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) Pickering, 21, was selected 21st overall by the Penguins in 2022. He surprised many last season when he earned an unexpected NHL call-up in November after putting on a solid performance to kick off his first full season in professional hockey. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner registered a goal and three points in 25 games with the big club before being re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) in January. Pickering has aspirations of remaining on the NHL roster this season for good, and it's something that was the ultimate goal for him all summer long. The same goes for Brunicke, too. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound young defenseman turned heads in training camp last season - just 18 years old and fresh off his 44th overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft - with his top-of-the-line skating ability, hockey smarts, and two-way prowess. His high level of play earned him a stay through the end of training camp, and he may just have gotten that nine-game trial had it not been for the injury situation on the forward front. Now 19, Brunicke is partaking in a crucial camp for his development, as he wants to avoid the binding assignment back to junior hockey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/for-one-penguins-top-prospect-new-ahl-chl-rule-could-prove-crucial] by cracking the NHL roster this time around. And part of what has helped both he and Pickering is that they have seen much of their camp repetitions alongside guys like Sidney Crosby and Ville Koivunen and against guys like Erik Karlsson. "Me and Owen have spent a lot of time with Sid, Koivy, [Justin] Brazeau, all those guys," Brunicke said. "So, it’s cool to be a part of that, and we’re learning each day and taking it step-by-step." As mentioned earlier, Pickering and Brunicke have been paired together consistently from the onset of camp, and the duo is something that goes back to last season. At the conclusion of his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - where he put up five goals and 30 points in 41 games - Brunicke was awarded an AHL stint with WBS. In 10 regular season games, he registered two points - he also put up a goal and two points in two AHL playoff games - and he saw some time with Pickering then. Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season Shootout [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/dc8a4f30-40be-4660-897d-80fc8307358e.jpeg] Penguins Hold Strong, Fall To Canadiens In Pre-Season Shootout On Monday, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-hold-strong-fall-to-canadiens-in-pre-season-shootout] 5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training Camp [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c1f1b099-b6e6-4aab-8cdb-f0d29ab6a05d.jpeg] 5 Observations From First Week Of Penguins' Training Camp On Thursday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season. And through three days, there has been a lot of action. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/5-observations-from-first-week-of-penguins-training-camp] For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove Crucial [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/75392134-807f-4496-89f8-ed729474c642.webp] For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove Crucial On Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/for-one-penguins-top-prospect-new-ahl-chl-rule-could-prove-crucial] Pickering's size, reach, transition game, and shutdown ability complement Brunicke's ability to activate, skate with the puck, and use his skating ability to create offensive opportunity. But neither of their skillsets are limiting, as each of them have a pretty strong two-way game and are able to both generate chances and stymie opposing breakouts. Both players alluded to how well they read off of each other, and their off-ice friendship has also led to on-ice chemistry. "I think we play well together, complement each other," Pickering said. "We’re also just good friends and understand the other pretty good. So, yeah, we’re having fun.” Brunicke echoed that sentiment, adding that they are learning from each other as well. "We’re taking it each day, just learning and growing together," Brunicke said. "So, it’s been a lot of fun. We’re creating some chemistry here, and we’ll look to keep progressing.” Pittsburgh Penguins' defensemen Harrison Brunicke (45) and Owen Pickering. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2d705146-965a-497e-a5c4-3fc30f46353c.jpeg] Pittsburgh Penguins' defensemen Harrison Brunicke (45) and Owen Pickering. (Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News) Of course, the path to the NHL roster for both of them isn't exactly going to be easy. The Penguins have a lot of defensemen on both sides vying for few spots, and even if GM and POHO Kyle Dubas's comments on youth earning roster spots [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/the-young-guys-are-coming-3-observations-from-dubas-s-pre-season-press-conference] are to be taken at face value, there's still a lot of veteran movement that would have to happen in order for both of them to make the roster. In an ideal world, though, they both would. This is a pairing that could very well be a large part of the Penguins' future and their hopes of contending for another Stanley Cup championship, and playing at the NHL level now may just be what is best for their development moving forward. Pickering's left side is a bit more open a battle than Brunicke's right, but - either way - they want to make decisions difficult for Penguins' brass when final roster cuts are being made. And, for Pickering, it all comes down to staying within himself and putting his best foot forward. “I feel good," he said. "I'm just trying to compete and, hopefully, make the team.” 'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/dffc098c-e739-4f69-a3b8-d58d4077c9e8.jpeg] 'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press Conference On Thursday, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/the-young-guys-are-coming-3-observations-from-dubas-s-pre-season-press-conference] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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!
