The Penguins’ prospects closed out the 2025 Prospects Challenge on a high note with a 6-3 victory over the Sabres’ hopefuls yesterday afternoon at LECOM Harborcenter. In the process, finishing the tournament with a 2-0-1 record.
It was pretty much all hands on deck as coach Kirk MacDonald returned forward Ville Koivunen and defensemen Owen Pickering and Finn Harding to the mx. Pacing the black-and-gold attack were first-round pick Ben Kindel (pictured), who tallied two goals and four points and Tristan Broz, who likewise potted a pair.
Avery Hayes and defenseman Quinn Beauchesne, both quite conspicuous and for all the right reasons throughout the tourney, notched the other goals for the locals.
At the far end of the rink, Sergei Murashov went the distance and was good when he needed to be against a talented Buffalo squad. After the Sabres crept to within 4-3 early in the third period on a goal by former Pens prospect Isaac Belliveau, Murashov stoned 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius on a breakaway.
Next stop for the kids…training camp.
Sid Staying Put
Some reporters caught up with Sidney Crosby yesterday as he was out making the rounds while delivering season tickets. The Pens’ captain went out of his way to clarify recent comments that seemed to place his future in the ‘Burgh in doubt.
Perhaps no statement resonated more or did more to calm the roiling waters than the following:
“This is where I want to be. I love it here…”
Talk about cutting to the chase!
For the full story, be sure to check out Shelly Anderson’s article on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
Dubas Speaks, Too
Kyle Dubas likewise spoke yesterday during an appearance on The Sheet with Jeff Marek. Among the subjects—the Pens’ retool/rebuild process.
“Our focus remains on continuing this job that we’ve signed up for, which is to build the team back into a contender,” Dubas told Marek.
“We don’t put any timelines on that, because we’re trying to do that as urgently as we can. So, we haven’t come out and said it’s an X amount of years plan, because we talked about development and what younger players are capable of, and we’re trying to find every edge we can to try to get back into that mix in our division and then within the league.”
The Pens’ POHO/GM also commented on the recent hullabaloo concerning Sid.
“I don’t begrudge any of it,” Dubas said. “I think that it’s a player that people have a deep amount of interest in. I understand that people want to see all great players contend and win every year of their whole life because they’re special. They mean a lot to them.”
