7 Penguins' Prospects Named In New Top-145 Young Players List
A new prospects ranking is the latest indicator of a rapidly improving Pittsburgh Penguins' organizational prospect pool under Kyle Dubas.
Video Transcript
You know, right now, and if this was before the Caden Korczak trade, I would have easily said Harrison Brunick.
And I kept saying that to people.
I felt it was a 95% chance he was going to make the team.
Now, it's probably a little less than 50-50 just because there's just no room for him on the right side.
If I had to pick someone, it would be like a Rucker McGorty or an Avery Hayes as like a 13th or 14th forward as of right now.
But I could see a world where Sergei Miroshov is one prospect making the team.
But, you know, we'll see if something else surprises me.
We were all stunned by Ben Kendall last year.
Maybe that somehow happens again.
You know, who knows?
But as of right now, I really only see probably one prospect making this team right now, though that can change obviously as we get to camp and we see some more reps, some preseason games.
It's like, okay, maybe this other player does have a legit shot here.
So that's kind of where I'm at.
Given the last two years at camp, If Harrison Bruynik has a better camp than he did in his first two showings, I don't see a way that he doesn't make this team.
And, you know, I think what you said about forwards and everything, obviously the Koivonen situation is a special one.
He just signed that eight-year deal.
You know, it does make him waivers proof.
But, I mean, I think that's kind of a signifier that the Penguins are betting on him a little bit.
I think he's gonna come in and have a really strong camp.
And let's not forget, Koivunen did make the team last season.
We talked about Tristan Brose and Avery Hayes potentially getting shafted.
Koivunen had a really good training camp last season too .
I mean, this guy had an excellent training camp.
He obviously had that runway at the end of the 2024-2025 season to kinda show what he can do a little bit too, which I think helped him.
But as far as Bruynik, you know, he walked on as an 18-year-old.
Probably would've made camp if not for the forward injury situation.
Because if you remember back that year, there were a lot of injuries on the forward front.
Rucker McGrody made it that year.
It was kinda down to either McGrody or Bruynik.
Because of the situation with the injuries, I think that skewed in McGrody's favor.
And then we saw Bruynik sent back to the WHL.
Last season, again, he comes out, has a spectacular camp, makes the team along with Ben Kindle.
Obviously those first nine games didn't go the way that he wanted to or that the Penguins weren't necessarily hoping.
But this is a guy out of training camp last season that people were already talking about he was one of the best defensemen in camp.
It wasn't just like prospect defenseman.
Like he was legitimately one of the best defensemen in camp last season.
They know what happened in the AHL playoffs last season.
He was unreal in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season.
He was really, really good.
We also saw that he put on a lot of weight.
You know, he's in the first two seasons, he was kind of a little bit physically under- underdeveloped.
But now, I mean, he's put on a lot of size.
He's playing-- He's a multidimensional player.
He's a little bit more multifaceted defensively, which is something the Penguins were really looking for out of him.
He's still doing all the stuff that he was doing offensively to kind of wow them in the last two camps.
So I guess where I'm coming from.
If he has the If he repeats the performance of the last two camps or if he has a better performance, I just have a hard time seeing him not make this roster.
I know the waiver exemption plays in.
I know the fact that he's AHL eligible does play in.
That all matters for sure.
But I just don't see if he has a better camp than Kaiden Korzak, if he has a better camp than Declan Carlyle, if he has a better camp than Sam Girard, I think they'll find a way to, to slot him into the lineup.
Even if that means Letang playing the offside, if that means Korczac playing the offside.
They'll have options.
I think if he puts together the camp that he's put together the last two years, they'll figure it out and they'll find a spot for him.
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely possible.
I mean, we've seen him have great camps these last couple of years.
I assume he's gonna have another really good camp.
I just-- When I look at the defen- defensive depth chart right now, right side's already really crowded.
I don't think they'd wanna put Korczak or Letang on their offside.
I don't think they'd want Bruynck to play on his offside in general.
No.
So, you know, I, I just see an uphill battle right now.
Doesn't mean it can't be won or anything like that.
I just see him as of right now potentially starting in the A, which is again, by no means a bad thing.
Wow.
I think he's going to be in the NHL for quite a bit considering how he has developed, how h- he got better as last season went on, especially after he goes b- down from the nine game trial, has a nice season in Junior, comes back up lights it up in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton playoffs.
He was fantastic.
Now, "Okay, can you make the team again?"
But also, if you make the team, can you stay for really the entire season?
As of right now, I don't have him on my roster, but I am open to changing that as we go deep into camp, see how everyone does.
If one of my six defensemen that I've talked about that's, you know, not named Eric Carlson, ha- Or Chris Letang, I should say, has a camp that's like, ooh, maybe that's not very good.
Okay, then we can have a different conversation.
But right now, I just think th- the defense is just a little too crowded on the right side than on the left side.
I don't think they'd want him playing on his offside, but hey, maybe Dan Muse thinks differently than I do.
Yeah.
I don't think Bruynck would play on his offside.
I think this is more a question for me of whether they explore Korczak on both sides or whether they ask Letang to play on his offside too, because again, I think w- The situation with Letang, I think, is a bit murkier than maybe people necessarily perceive, from the outside.
Not saying that from an organizational perspective, but I do again think that they're cognizant of the, his decline.
And they kind of already started playing into that last season with his reduced minutes.
And they know that a couple of these guys are pushing.
They know that Pickering's gonna make a push.
They know that Bruynck's gonna make a push.
And I'm, I guess I'm just in a spot where I don't think they're gonna block anybody if they earn it
