The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising youngsters in their system as they focus on the future. One of them is defenseman Owen Pickering, as many believe that the 2022 first-round pick will emerge as a key part of the Penguins' blueline for many years to come.
Pickering played in his first 25 games this past season with Pittsburgh, where he recorded one goal, three points, 13 hits, and 19 blocks. He also played in his 47 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording two goals, 11 assists, 13 points, and a plus-18 rating. Overall, it was a solid first professional season for Pickering, and he will now look to build off it in 2025-26 from here.
When noting that Pickering has a ton of potential, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see the 6-foot-5 blueliner take a notable step forward in his development next season. He now has a year of experience on his resume, so he could hit a new level now that he is more adjusted. Furthermore, the potential for him to have a good role on Pittsburgh's roster is there, as the depth on the left side of their blueline is not the strongest.
With all of this, there is no question that Pickering is a breakout candidate to watch for the Penguins next season. If he takes a nice step in the right direction in 2025-26, it would be great news for a Penguins club that needs all the help it can get right now.
Ex-Penguins Star Found Perfect Fit With New TeamDuring this past off-season, former Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Jake Guentzel signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was after Guentzel posted 30 goals and 77 points in 67 games split between the Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes during the 2023-24 campaign.
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