The Pittsburgh Penguins are closing out their season the same way they started it. After going on a bit of a hot streak, the team has looked extremely unmotivated and passive in their last couple of losses. Their season has been marred by inconsistent play on both sides of the puck. There are plenty of things that need to be fixed this summer, including the defense.
Penguins’ Defense Needs to Be Revamped
At the beginning of the season, the Penguins’ defense was not playing well. They seemed to get on the same page around mid-November and have been playing relatively well ever since. However, lately they have reverted to their old ways. The 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 25 was one of their worst defensive performances of the season. They were losing most of the battles along the walls and could not create any pushback out of the defensive zone. They spent the majority of the game chasing the puck. Pittsburgh likes to play a low-to-high game, but that style does not suit all of their defensemen.
In the Penguins’ 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on March 27, their poor defense was once again on display. They were having trouble defending in front of their goal all night, and no one seemed sure of their position in the defensive zone. They looked extremely disjointed, and no one was on the same page.
Conor Timmins was just added to the blue line on March 7 via a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 10 games with Pittsburgh, he has one goal and four assists. Timmins has the size and strength the Penguins could use on defense, and his play has been pretty solid so far. The team does have some defensive prospects down in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but is that going to be enough to fix the problem?
Harrison Brunicke
Harrison Brunicke was drafted 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024. He was just assigned to Wilkes-Barre on March 28 from his Western Hockey League (WHL) team, the Kamloops Blazers. Brunicke led all Kamloops defensemen this season with five goals and 25 assists for 30 points. He was easily one of the most impressive prospects at training camp this season. His speed, skating ability, and offensive instincts were a few of the things that set him apart from the rest.
Brunicke also had an impressive preseason with the Penguins and was almost given a nine-game trial at the beginning of the season. In his first game with Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, March 29, he had the primary assist on the team’s third goal. Pittsburgh definitely does not want to rush his development, but a right-shot defenseman is something they could use in their lineup. If he has an impressive training camp next season, he may just get some NHL playing time.
Owen Pickering
Owen Pickering is no stranger to the Penguins’ lineup. He spent 25 games in Pittsburgh this season before being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre in January. He has two goals and eight assists for the baby Penguins, which may not seem like much, but his game has been developing in other areas this season.
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At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Pickering has been playing a shutdown style game all season. More production will eventually come, but for now, Pittsburgh is comfortable with where he is in his development. He will more than likely be on the Penguins’ roster full-time next season.
Penguins Need to Make Changes This Summer
The Penguins’ season can be boiled down to poor goaltending and incompetent defensive play. They have to make significant changes this summer if they have any prayer of returning to the playoffs next season. If Pickering and Brunicke are not going to be NHL-ready next season, then Pittsburgh has to find some strong reinforcements to shore up their blue line through free agency or trade.
