Analyzing Deeper Penguins Prospect Pool; Rebuild Progress

There was a striking difference in depth and talent of the 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins prospect pool compared to just two years ago.

Gone were empty spaces and undrafted longshots whose chance of achieving NHL ice was roughly the same as finding an autographed bible, replaced with legitimate players with big offensive totals, big shoulders, and a few big chips resting upon ready shoulders. The Top 10 prospects included five first-round picks and four second-round picks.

Read More: Top 25 Penguins Prospects, #5 to #1; Surprises and Who is Ready to Roll

The only oddball of the group was rising goalie star Sergei Musharov, who was a 2022 fourth-rounder, but likely fell because he was still in the Russian second-tier league. In fact, within our Top 15 Penguins prospects, there were two more recent second-round picks, Tanner Howe and Peyton Kettles; Howe represented Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors.

Overall, we were particularly impressed with 2025 first-round picks Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall).

Zonnon could blossom into a strong middle-six center role, while Horcoff seems destined to be a power forward. Lest we forget, the organization clearly projects the 11th overall pick, Ben Kindel, to be a top-six center, though he has a longer path in front of him as he physically matures and improves his skating.

The driving point, as we checked down the prospect list, was that Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas has quickly stocked the shelves with at least a half-dozen players, if not a baker’s dozen, who are likely to play in the NHL. That’s a far cry from wondering if long vanished prospects such as Linus Ohlund or Sam Miletic could take gargantuan steps forward (each was in our 2021 Top 10).

However, as we extoll the work Dubas and vice president of player personnel Wes Clark are doing, there is a real and pressing shortcoming that will not be easy to correct:

The Penguins are missing the next cornerstone of their roster. They are missing the next No. 1 center and perhaps the No. 2 center. Sidney Crosby turns 38 in August. Evgeni Malkin turns 39 next week. The finite amount of time the Penguins have with unquestioned leaders and top-of-the-lineup centers is drawing to a close, at least for Malkin.

Obviously, the traditional way of adding star players is with high draft picks. However, as the Penguins’ roster for 2027 and beyond begins to take shape, or at least some rough sketch thereof, 2026 and 2027 may be Dubas’s best or only chances for a top-five draft pick.

Yet, with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust joining Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty in the Penguins’ top six, the team will be at least good enough to stay within sight of the playoff chase.

Tank? Create a “less than” roster capable of a high pick? Dubas is thus far rejecting such talk.

“The one thing that I do disagree with is, is just the notion that we’re actively trying to get worse. That doesn’t really enter into our mindset at all, that we’re going to go out, we’re going to purposely become worse,” said Dubas on the recent PDOcast podcast.

Some Penguins fans will grit their teeth and argue, but there are additional ways to become permanently competitive. See also: two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The heartbeat of the team, Matthew Tkachuk, was a trade acquisition that cost them a top-line winger (Jonathan Huberdeau), a top-four defenseman (Mackenzie Weegar), a depth player, and a first-round pick.

When the time is right, the Penguins will certainly have that kind of capital to spend on a player they feel is the right catalyst for their Stanley Cup hopes.

As of now, the Top 25 Penguins Prospect List is substantial and, quite frankly, impressive. From nothing to overflowing in two years is a feat to be praised. Now, there’s a lot riding on the picks of Kindel and Zonnon, for at least one to be a significant contributor.

The prospect list means there is a good foundation of possibility. There are more needs and more additions to make. It could be false hope, or it could be a very quick turn with light already shining at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s talk again after a Rickard Rakell or Erik Karlsson trade.