With the offseason in full swing and the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in the rearview mirror, NHL organizations have welcomed new faces to their prospect pipeline, including the Pittsburgh Penguins. On top of that, another season has come and gone with prospects in organizations’ systems developing and making the next step toward potentially reaching their goal of playing in the NHL. With that being said, the Penguins saw plenty of their prospects take a big step in the right direction while adding a handful at the Draft who should make an impact in the league.
As with the 2025-26 mid-season rankings, players are considered prospects if they have played fewer than 25 NHL games and are under 24 (players such as Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and Owen Pickering do not meet the criteria). Cruz Lucius was also in the mid-season rankings, but the organization announced that he will not sign his entry-level contract (ELC) and will be a free agent as of August 15 of this year.
Honorable Mentions
- Tanner Howe made his professional debut in the American Hockey League after a long recovery from a torn ACL, and in his time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he did not look out of place and earned praise from Amanda Kessel, Director of Minor League Operations and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Assistant General Manager, for his play and overall work ethic. If he can continue to show why there was as much excitement around him coming into the 2024 Draft, he could earn his way into the top 15 by midseason.
- 2026 third-round pick Pierce Mbuyi has the potential to turn into one of the organization’s top prospects if he can find the consistency to become a true impact player. He has shown the signs of being a player who can impact the game at both ends in his time with the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
- After being in the mid-season top 15, both Jordan Charron and Ryan Miller are currently included in the honorable mention portion. They each had solid seasons with their respective junior organizations.
15. C/ RW Avery Hayes
2025-26 regular season stats: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- 42 games played, 24 goals, 15 assists, 39 points
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)- 16 games played, five goals, zero assists, five points
An undrafted player that the Penguins added back in March of 2025, Avery Hayes got the attention of many in the organization with his play in the 2024-25 season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he put up 42 points in 60 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and followed that up with a strong second season before earning a call-up in February. He immediately made a name for himself, scoring twice in his NHL debut on Feb.5, scoring twice. He saw plenty of action throughout the season, both at the AHL and NHL levels, and brought plenty of energy when he was on the ice.
Hayes may not end up being a top-six player at the NHL level or have the impact that some other prospects the organization has will, but if he can build off the 2025-26 season he had, he could end up being a great pickup for Dubas and the Penguins and could play a bottom-six role in the future for the Penguins.
14. LHD Tomas Galvas
2025-26 regular season stats: Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia)- 32 games played, eight goals, 16 assists, 24 points
One of the Penguins’ 2026 picks, Tomas Galvas, is on the older side of prospects from this year’s draft class after not hearing his name called in the previous two drafts, but he has the upside to be an NHL defenseman. He may not be the biggest player on the ice, but he has the skills to be a difference-maker with the puck and is shifty with it. His defensive game does not lag behind, and he has a strong two-way game that is being seen more in the NHL. Overall, Galvas has a chance to be a prospect who makes the jump to the professional level earlier than others due to his developed game and the experience he has playing in big moments and games in his young hockey career. His size will be one of the biggest limiting factors, but there are plenty of examples of smaller players becoming full-time NHLers.
13. RHD Finn Harding
2025-26 regular season stats: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- 54 games played, four goals, 18 assists, 22 points
Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)- Seven games played, zero goals, four assists, four points
After making the jump to the professional ranks this season following a strong 2024-25 season with the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Finn Harding did not look out of place in the AHL and showed the flashes in his offensive game that have made some excited about what he has the potential to become. He has the offensive game to make a difference, but where his game really shone in his first professional season was in his responsible defensive play.
In his rookie season, he led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in plus-minus with a plus-32 and was one of the team’s most consistent defenders. Seeing how he can build on a solid 2025-26 season and further develop his game is something to watch.
12. C Mac Swanson
2025-26 regular season stats: University of North Dakota (NCAA)- 40 games played, 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points
Playing at a steady offensive pace, Mac Swanson remained a strong player for the University of North Dakota in the 2025-26 season. While it would have been nice to see his offensive game improve further in the second half of the season, his two-way, relentless play makes him a threat any time he is on the ice. With the Penguins deep at center, Swanson might be blocked a bit and will really have to take his game to another level in the 2026-27 season if he wants to grab the attention of the organization’s management. He has the all-around game to be a professional player, but he will need to continue to take his offensive game to new heights to become a standout.
11. C Kale Dach
2025-26 regular season stats: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)- 63 games played, 34 goals, 41 assists, 75 points
Kale Dach continues to look like a potential steal of the 2025 Draft after being taken by the Penguins in the seventh round. In his first season in the WHL, he looked great offensively and put up the fourth-most points among rookies. His all-around offensive game is hard to deny, as he has the playmaking and goal-scoring abilities to be a dual threat whenever he has the puck. While numbers can sometimes be inflated at the junior level, it will be very interesting to see how Dach plays against older players this upcoming season, as he will be playing near Pittsburgh during his collegiate career at Penn State University.
If he can build off his great season with the Calgary Hitmen, he could end up being a prospect that defies the odds as a seventh-round pick to become an NHL player.
10. C Zam Plante
2025-26 regular season stats: University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)- 40 games played, 20 goals, 30 assists, 50 points
Zam Plante’s offensive game has finally caught up to the rest of his game, and he was one of the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s most consistent players all season long. Watching his game develop the way it has in two college seasons has been something impressive to watch, and as he heads back for his third season to play alongside his two brothers (Max and Victor), it will be worth watching to see if he can go to yet another level.
9. LW Will Horcoff
2025-26 regular season stats: University of Michigan (NCAA)- 40 games played, 25 goals, 14 assists, 39 points
The last of the Penguins’ three first-round picks at the 2025 Draft, Will Horcoff enjoyed a strong first full season at the University of Michigan. The big center took on a bigger role with the Wolverines this past season and did not fail to produce, and looked rock solid for one of the country’s best teams in the regular season.
He still has plenty of runway to work with when it comes to refining his game and developing further, but the potential is there for Horcoff to become one of the organization’s top prospects and be a big part of the organization’s future. Seeing how he handles taking on potentially an even bigger role for Michigan in the 2026-27 season will be something to watch.
8. C/W Tristan Broz
2025-26 regular season stats: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- 47 games played, 16 goals, 23 assists, 39 points
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)- One game played, zero points
A player that many have been waiting for to take the next jump and make his way to the NHL full-time, Tristan Broz, could be on the verge of finally doing so. He continues to put his two-way game on display at the AHL level, while also elevating his offensive game. After a strong regular season, Broz carried that momentum and play into the playoffs, as he put up 11 points in 15 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
If Broz comes into training camp and can stand out, he will make the decisions that head coach Dan Muse and GM Kyle Dubas have to make harder, especially after a start to free agency that has seen the organization add even more depth to the forward grouping.
7. RW Liam Ruck
2025-26 regular season stats: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)- 68 games played, 45 goals, 59 assists, 104 points
The numbers do not lie about the Penguins’ 22nd overall pick at this year’s draft, as Liam Ruck has the offensive game and IQ to be a game-changer at the NHL level. He has the mix of goal-scoring and playmaking abilities to make a difference wherever he is in the offensive zone. Alongside his twin brother and fellow Penguins draft pick, Markus, the Rucks have great chemistry together, and fans will get to continue seeing it for the foreseeable future, as they both will return to Medicine Hat for the 2026-27 season before heading to the University of North Dakota in the 2027-28 season.
6. G Joel Blomqvist
2025-26 regular season stats: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- 16-5-6 record, 2.40 goals-against average (GAA), .913 save percentage (SV%), one shutout
Joel Blomqvist was long thought of as the Penguins’ clear-cut number one goaltender prospect until the arrival of Sergei Murashov. Blomqvist has not done anything to hurt his case with the way he has played, continuing to play solidly at the AHL level this past season, but he did take a bit of a back seat to Murashov, including not playing in any of the 15 playoff games Wilkes-Barre/Scranton played in.
Blomqvist and Murashov will be battling it out for the second spot on the NHL roster this upcoming season, most likely, and if Blomqvist does lose that battle, he will have the chance to be the number one guy for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. There is no reason not to believe that the two prospect goaltenders could easily become the tandem at the NHL level in the future.
5. C Markus Ruck
2025-26 regular season stats: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)- 68 games played, 21 goals, 87 assists, 108 points
While his twin, Liam, has the pure offensive ability to be a game-changer, Markus Ruck has the two-way game to go along with the offensive skill set to be a true all-around player at the NHL level. He has great vision on the ice, loves finding teammates (his brother in particular), and plays a very responsible defensive game from his center position.
If he can get his goal-scoring numbers up a bit more this upcoming season, the Penguins’ 39th pick could become an even bigger danger for his opponents. Watching both him and Liam continue to develop and mature is surely something that fans will keep a close eye on.
4. C Bill Zonnon
2025-26 regular season stats: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)- 35 games played, 14 goals, 32 assists, 46 points
A massive riser in the prospect rankings, thanks in large part to being healthy for the second half of the 2025-26 season, Bill Zonnon has proved that he can play at a high level at both the junior and AHL levels. Like Markus Ruck, he has the vision on the ice to be a difference-maker with the puck and the defensive awareness to be a strong two-way player.
After his season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada wrapped up, Zonnon made his way to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and played in 11 games in the playoffs. Not only did he make an impact offensively, putting up seven points, but his play away from the puck truly stood out. He showed that he is more than ready to play at the professional level and will be an exciting player to watch in the 2026-27 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
3. W Mikhail Ilyin
2025-26 regular season stats: Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)- 68 games played, 14 goals, 30 assists, 44 points
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- Five games played, zero goals, two assists, two points
The excitement surrounding Mikhail Ilyin continued to grow this past season as he posted strong numbers in the KHL once again. He posted the best numbers over the three seasons he spent in Russia’s top professional league and showcased his full offensive game. He made his way to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the final five regular-season games and then the playoffs. After growing a bit more accustomed to the North American game, he made a big impact in the playoffs, putting up nine points in the 15 games he played in.
Seeing how Ilyin can grow even more comfortable playing North American hockey and whether he can elevate his game will be something to watch for as he looks to become a late-round steal for the organization (2023 fifth-round pick).
2. RHD Harrison Brunicke
2025-26 regular season stats: Kamloops Blazers (WHL)- 24 games played, two goals, 22 assists, 24 points
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)- 11 games played, one goal, seven assists, eight points
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)- Nine games played, one goal, zero assists, one point
A busy 2025-26 season saw Harrison Brunicke make three stops in his travels to play. After starting the season with the Penguins, the organization made the decision to send him back to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL after a conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He put his all-around game, led by his strong defensive game, on display and earned a spot on Canada’s Under-20 World Junior Championship (WJC) roster.
He is another prospect who joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after his junior season ended and was thrust into every situation for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate. Another strong training camp and preseason this upcoming season could see Brunicke making the full-time jump to the NHL, and if not, he will have every opportunity to be a likely top-pair defenseman with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The future is awfully bright for the young defenseman.
1. G Sergei Murashov
2025-26 regular season stats: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL): 24-9-4 record, 2.20 GAA, .919 SV%, four shutouts
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL): 1-1-2 record, 2.56 GAA, .897 SV%, one shutout
Ever since coming to North America to play professional hockey, Sergei Murashov has done nothing but win, and he continued to do so in his second full AHL season. He was a mainstay in between the pipes for the “baby Pens” and helped backstop them through the playoffs as well. After making his NHL debut early in the 2025-26 regular season, Murashov showed some growing pains but flashed the qualities that make him the goaltender many believe will be the Penguins’ number one starter in the near future.
With Stuart Skinner leaving the Penguins this offseason in free agency, Murashov could very well be in line to make the 2026-27 opening-night roster for the organization if he has a strong training camp and preseason. He will be battling for that spot with Blomqvist, as mentioned earlier. Either way, the future at the goaltender position is in good hands with both he and the aforementioned Blomqvist on the rise.
Future Looking Brighter for the Penguins
As the Penguins continue to look toward the future while staying in the thick of the playoff hunt with the core they have in place heading into the 2026-27 season, Dubas and his staff have done a solid job building the pipeline. There is a strong mix of goal-scoring, playmaking, and goaltending in the system, while adding more high-end defensemen prospects could be on the checklist. The future could be in very good hands if these prospects can develop into the players that they have the potential to be.
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