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Penguins Prospects: 4 Players with Most to Gain at Rookie Tournament
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- Penguins Prospects: 4 Players with Most to Gain at Rookie Tournament
Penguins Prospects: 4 Players with Most to Gain at Rookie Tournament
Just a few years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins team at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo was a nondescript hodgepodge of college free agents, undrafted juniors, and a couple of players with an outside chance to make the big show.
If not for a few injuries, the current Penguins prospects tournament roster would be stacked. Instead, there are several players who will be paired beside top prospects and a couple who have already made their NHL debuts.
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For those just dialing back into hockey, the Prospects Challenge runs from Friday through Monday at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo. The Penguins' prospects will play three games: Friday, Sunday, and Monday, against Boston , Columbus, and Buffalo, respectively.
In fact, there are no free agents on the current prospects roster .
Remember the days of rooting for free agents like Jordie Bellerive, and distant propects such Dane Birks, and Linus Ohlund? Just for fun, here's our Penguins rookie tournament coverage from 2018.
As much as rookie tournaments don't matter in the public consciousness, they actually matter to the players and the team. Playing well can be forgotten quickly when facing the men in training camp, though lingering good impressions will factor when assignments are delivered and expectations are set.
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For some, playing poorly can leave a bad taste, costing them an opportunity in training camp or putting them a few spots lower on the depth chart.
It doesn't matter on any paper records, and you won't find the Penguins' recent "championships" in their trophy case, but the rookie tournament matters.
4 Penguins Prospects with the Most to Gain
1. Ben Kindel
The Penguins first-round pick, 11th overall, has no pressure to make the team this season. In fact, he's a bit of a project who must improve his strength and skating so that his physical skills properly compliment his mental skill.
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Read More: Penguins Development Camp Analysis: The Winners & Nice Surprises
Kindel did not have a great rookie camp in July following the draft. His skating was a noticeable detriment to his game once matched against some players who have already taken their first steps toward pro hockey or who had otherwise made their debuts.
For example, he was caught from behind on the rush, and had the puck taken from him when he tried to play too slowly.
A good rookie tournament would go a long way to showing the Penguins were right to so highly value Kindel, and could launch him into a more competitive training camp role.
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2. Emil Pieniniemi
It's time for Pieniniemi to show the top form he exhibited at the 2025 World Juniors for Team Finland, but in a Penguins sweater.
Pieniniemi has not been particularly noticeable in his previous Penguins training camp or rookie camps. However, the 2023 third-round pick (91st overall) was a point-per-game defender with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL last season and had three points (2-1-3) in six games for Team Finland at the WJCs.
The 6-foot-3, 177-pound defenseman could earn himself an AHL job with a strong showing over the next few weeks. It begins Friday.
3. Daniel Laatsch
Not typically discussed among the Penguins top prospects, Laatsch is a big D-man at 6-foot-5, and somewhere around 200 pounds. After four years at the University of Wisconsin, he's fighting for a spot somewhere in the Penguins organization.
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Will it be Wheeling or Wilkes-Barre? There' a huge difference in trajectory and opportunity for the 23-year-old former seventh round pick (2021).
Laatsch should have an advantage against the younger competition after four years of Big 10 hockey, so he should show well, but he'll need to show he can move quickly, move the puck quickly, and defend well positionally.
An AHL job gets him on an NHL track, an ECHL slot puts him in an uphill climb–much like Isaac Beliveau found himself in.
4. Finn Harding
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas mentioned Harding by name last April when discussing the Penguins top prospect defensemen, but Harding has a long way to go, yet.
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Harding, 20, was a 2024 seventh round pick and made his professional debut with the Wheeling Nailers at the end of last season. He was scoreless in three games, but there is some optimism around the organization regarding his potential.
The post Penguins Prospects: 4 Players with Most to Gain at Rookie Tournament appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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