Penguins Youth Movement Begins; Top D-Man Prospect Called Up

The Pittsburgh Penguins took another step in their youth movement Friday morning when the team announced they had called up top prospect defenseman Owen Pickering from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Pickering, 20, was the Penguins first-round draft choice (21st overall) in 2022. He played increasingly well during training camp and the preseason and was one of the Penguins final cuts of training camp. This is his first professional season.

Read more: Finally. Pickering Pumped for Penguins Moment; “I Know What to Do” (+)

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound left–handed defenseman has one goal in 12 games, and is a plus-5.

The Penguins face the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday night at Nationwide Arena. Pittsburgh Hockey Now will update the story if Pickering is available tonight or if there are any corresponding transactions.

The Penguins have reportedly been active on the NHL trade market and there are no known injuries to the Penguins primary left side defensemen: Matt Grzelcyk, Marcus, Pettersson, or Ryan Graves. Ryan Shea has been serving as the seventh defenseman.

The Penguins recalled forward prospect Vasily Ponomarev on Thursday. 2019 first round pick Sam Poulin made his season debut, playing in his seventh NHL game, on Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings.