First-Round Pick Headlines Penguins Prospect Showcase Roster

The Pittsburgh Penguins will again send a deep group of prospects to Buffalo.

For the fourth year in a row, Pittsburgh will skate in the Prospects Challenge, the Sabres-hosted showcase that allows young players to get valuable game reps before NHL training camps open.

This year’s group carries plenty of intrigue, headlined by first-round pick Ben Kindel. The forward, selected 11th overall in June, will make his first appearance in black and gold, according to a team release.

He will be joined by a strong draft class that includes Brady Peddle, Gabriel D’Aigle, Travis Hayes, Ryan Miller, Quinn Beauchesne, Jordan Charron, Carter Sanderson and Kale Dach. Many of them will get their first real taste of competition against other NHL systems.

The roster blends that wave of draftees with a handful of players already familiar to Penguins fans. Ville Koivunen and Owen Pickering logged NHL time last season and return to test themselves in this setting.

Other forwards to watch are Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz, Atley Calvert and Gabe Klassen, while the defense group features Harrison Brunicke, Emil Pieniniemi and Finn Harding. Sergei Murashov, one of the club’s promising young goalies, will also suit up.

For a few others, like Max Graham, Nolan Renwick, Brayden Edwards, Daniel Laatsch and Chase Pietila, the weekend represents their first chance to prove they belong in the mix. Not every prospect will dress — Rutger McGroarty, Bill Zonnon and Peyton Kettles remain sidelined with injuries, though their statuses are expected to be updated before training camp, the team said.

The tournament’s round-robin format provides a proving ground rather than a prize. For Pittsburgh, it is about giving management and coaches a clear look at how these names stack up against peer talent.

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