Prospect Challenge: Penguins wrap up successful trip, win preseason event for second year in a row

Well, it’s better than not winning

The Penguins’ prospects finished up an undefeated trip to Buffalo, downing the Sabre in an 8-5 game on Monday. Avery Hayes (AHL contract) scored a hat trick and added an assist. Tristan Broz finished a great trip to Buffalo with four points (1G+3A) of his own.

Overall this event is for the handful of players with NHL promise, and the Penguins have to be very encouraged by what they saw out of some individuals.

It was Rutger McGroarty’s first chance to make an impression, and the youngster did not disappoint. His time in the minor leagues will be short-lived, perhaps even non-existent this year. We’ll still have to see how he measures up on the ice at the same time with the big boys at NHL camp, but he couldn’t have done much more to indicate that he is ready. After some dominant performances early in the tournament, the Pens got to see McGroarty handle a little adversity on Monday. The Sabres’ goalie robbed McGroarty a few times, his frustration growing from being held off the board. Undeterred, McGroarty put the game away for his team with a late goal, releasing the frustration in his patented high-energy goal celebrations.

McGroarty was far from the only success story. Broz ended up with seven points (3G+4A) over the three games. Broz isn’t the biggest and his skating isn’t eye-popping, but he has the knack and hands dating back to his NCAA heroics to score. Important to see him find some success and kick off his pro career on a very good introductory note.

Wilkes coach Kirk MacDonald, who was in charge behind the bench for Pittsburgh at this event, zeroed in on another aspect of Broz’s game.

“Honestly, the one thing I was thinking about was how hard he backchecked,” MacDonald said with a wide grin. “When guys that are your skilled guys are doing that, it forces everybody else to do that. Nobody has a choice, right? The whole group has to do it. The points are great, yeah, but if these guys want to play in the National League, that’s the stuff you have to do.”

Ville Koivunen was another first-timer that looked the part as an offensively gifted player to keep an eye on this season. All in all, Vasily Ponomarev had his moments but a well-rounded lower line center isn’t meant to pop at events like this.

Which might be a good way to describe Owen Pickering. The defender towers at 6’5” on the ice and looked steady, if unspectacular. There is a lack of dynamic in his play, but that doesn’t preclude him as a future potential NHL contributor.

The dynamic play from the Pittsburgh blueline came from 2024 draftee Harrison Brunicke. It won’t be in the immediate future, but he’s a player to watch for being on a potential if not star trajectory at this point, at least having very bright days ahead.

The Pens look good in goal too. It was easy to predict Sergei Murashov would show well at event against lesser competition, and he did. Playing parts of two games (and all of another), Murashov was sharp and only allowed four total goals. It’s a early in his developmental timeline but it looks like the Pens got a good one there.

If you like tracking diamonds in the rough, Hayes will be worth following. He spent all week on the top line with McGroarty and Ponomarev and more than held up his end of the bargain. Hayes will go to the net even though he’s a small player and had several tap in or deflections from right in front. Even though he’s right handed, Hayes has a little bit of Conor Sheary in him for playing well with stars and having some nice touch in his hands. Hayes is turning 22 next month and still not on an NHL contract, so any dreams for the big league need to get in gear quickly with a big season in the AHL this year (which will be his second in the Pittsburgh organization after not finding a big niche last season).

Put another Prospects Challenge in the books, Pittsburgh wins it but more importantly will hope the event can help elevate some of those prospects for the long season ahead.