3 Players the Penguins Should Target With the 22nd Pick in the 2026 NHL Draft – The Hockey Writers –

After seeing the Pittsburgh Penguins make a bit of a surprising return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, with many believing they would be towards the bottom of the standings, they find themselves picking outside of the top-20 for the first time since the 2022 NHL Entry Draft ( they took defenseman Owen Pickering with the 21st pick). With a pipeline that has plenty of talent, thanks to the work that general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in to rebuild it, the organization is well-positioned to take either a position-of-need approach or go with the best-player-available route when they pick at #22.

LW J.P. Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers (Western Hockey League)

While the Penguins have a solid system and plenty of players with strong two-way games in their repertoire, they are missing a prospect who can put the puck in the back of the net at a high rate. J.P. Hurlbert would quickly be able to fill that void, having one of the best all-around shooting skillsets of any prospect in this year’s class.

Hurlbert has the hockey IQ to be a difference-maker as a playmaker, and after a superb rookie season with the Kamloops Blazers after making the move from the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), he has the makings of a first-round pick. If he is available at pick #22 for the Penguins, they should seriously consider taking him. He would instantly become one of the organization’s top prospects and could eventually feed off the playmaking skills of a Rutger McGroarty or Ben Kindel down the line and become a high-end scorer at the NHL level.

RW Marcus Nordmark, Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)

A high-end performer at the U20 level in Sweden, Marcus Nordmark is another prospect who would bring added offense to the Penguins’ system. Adding a player who has a strong mix of playmaking and goal-scoring abilities is always something that organizations look for at the draft, and the Penguins could do that with the selection of Nordmark. He has all of the tools to be an impact player in the offensive zone and would likely go higher at the 2026 Draft if it were not for the question marks surrounding his work ethic and overall motor. If the Penguins think they can help him work on this and further develop his game, he could be a strong option if available.

D Juho Piiparinen, Tappara (Liiga)

The Penguins do have a few prospects in their system at the backend of the ice, including the aforementioned Owen Pickering, as well as Harrison Brunicke, who should be making their impact be felt in the near future at the NHL level, but if Juho Piiparinen is available at pick #22, Dubas and the Penguins could consider taking the Finnish-born defenseman. He may not have the offensive upside that some of the other defensemen have in this year’s class, but his defensive game may be one of the best.

As an organization that is starting to take steps in the right direction of being more defensively sound, adding a prospect like Piiparinen would continue that trend, albeit being a piece for the future. His offensive game may never be his calling card, but a solid defensive skill set makes him an intriguing prospect who could very well be available when the Penguins pick.

Other names to keep an eye on: D William Håkansson, Luleå HF U20 (U20 Nationell), C Ilia Morozov, Miami (OH) (NCAA), RW Nikita Klepov, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Penguins Have a Chance to Add Yet Another Building Piece

Dubas and the rest of the Penguins’ management team have done a strong job at rebuilding their pipeline since arriving in Pittsburgh. It has given hope and excitement about the organization’s future as the core veterans near the end of their careers. Even with picking in the 20’s at the 2026 Draft, there is a chance for yet another building block to be added to the Penguins’ system who could very easily make an impact at the NHL level in the future.