Penguins Relinquish Rights to Two Prospects

The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect pool officially shrank by two Saturday when the team did not tender offers, thus losing exclusive negotiating rights to a pair of prospects.

Thimo Nickl and Nolan Collins were due contracts by 5 p.m. June 1, but it the Penguins and president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas did not sign either. Both will become free agents.

Update: The Penguins confirmed the situation to PHN.

Nickl, 22, was acquired on March 31, 2023, from Anaheim in exchange for the rights to 2019 fifth-rounder Judd Caufield. Nickl was Anaheim’s fourth-round pick in 2020 (104th overall). After three seasons, mostly in the second-tier Swedish league, he made his North American debut this season and played exclusively for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

In 66 games, the 6-foot-3, right-handed defenseman scored two goals with 19 assists.

Nolan Collins, 20, was the Penguins’ sixth-round pick in 2022 (167th overall) from the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. The heavy defenseman doesn’t score many points but is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. This season, he scored six goals with 20 assists in 65 games.

Both unsigned players were acquired by former GM Ron Hextall.