Now that the Penguins’ youth movement has begun in earnest, several youngsters are expected to earn spots this season, with forwards Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty considered virtual locks.
On the far side of the blue line, defenseman Owen Pickering and goalies Arturs Silovs and Joel Blomqvist are solid bets to see action with the black and gold as well. Perhaps even the highly regarded duo of puck stopper Sergei Murashov and skilled d-man Harrison Brunicke.
What about Tristan Broz?
Along with Murashov one of the last holdover picks from the Ron Hextall Era, the speedy 6’0” 205-pound forward has negotiated an interesting development path to say the least. Selected 58th overall in the 2021 Entry Draft after leading the Fargo Force of the USHL in scoring as a 17-year-old, Broz endured a challenging freshman year at the University of Minnesota, managing just six goals and 11 points in 36 games.
JFresh originally pegged his chances of becoming an NHL star at 4 percent, with only a 14 percent of becoming a full-time NHLer. Later downgraded to 1 and 2 percent, respectively.
Yikes.
Determined to alter his career arc and displaying plenty of moxie to boot, Broz transferred to the University of Denver, with highly favorable results. After notching 10 goals and 28 points in 40 games in ’22-23, Broz blossomed the following season, tallying 16 goals in 43 regular-season games for the Pioneers. For an encore, he scored two huge overtime goals during the team’s march to the NCAA championship, including the title-clinching tally.
As a 21-year-old rookie pro with the Baby Pens last season, the baby-faced native of River Falls, Wisconsin continued to make impressive strides. Refusing to be derailed by six-week bout with mono, Broz struck for 19 goals, third-best on the team, in only 59 games. Six of those goals came via the power play.
Enhancing his rep as a strong postseason performer and fierce competitor, Tristan paced the Baby Pens with a goal and three points in two playoff games.
Dare I say, the kid’s showing serious signs of evolving into a money player, the type who elevates his game when the stakes are highest. You can never have enough of those guys.
Unfortunately, as with Brunicke, Broz’s immediate path to the bigs appears to be blocked. Including on-the-bubble veterans Noel Acciari and Kevin Hayes, by my unofficial count we have no fewer than seven guys on the current roster who can play center, Tristan’s favored position. Eight if you count Rickard Rakell.
Although Pens POHO/GM Kyle Dubas will no doubt make some moves along the way to thin the herd, for now it appears Tristan will begin the season in northeastern PA.
I, for one, look forward to the day, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, he makes his black-and-gold debut.
I have a hunch the team will better for it.
Hall Call
After gathering cobwebs for the past dozen years or so, the Pens are dusting off their Hall of Fame. New inductees include such all-time black-and-gold greats as Tom Barrasso, Ron Francis, Jaromír Jágr, Chris Kunitz, Larry Murphy, and “Big Artie,” Kevin Stevens.
In addition, Scotty Bowman, Eddie Johnston, Jim Rutherford, and the late Ray Shero will be inducted as builders.
They’ll join prior inductees Syl Apps, Les Binkley, Dave Burrows, Paul Coffey, Rick Kehoe, Mario Lemieux, Joe Mullen, Jean Pronovost, Mark Recchi and Ulf Samuelsson in the player’s section and builders “Badger“ Bob Johnson, Craig Patrick and Jack Riley, the team’s original GM.
Previously inducted as contributors are Dr. Charles Burke, A.T. Caggiano, Edward DeBartolo, Sr., Elaine Heufelder, Mike Lange, Vince Lascheid and Frank Scuilli.
Embedded in that impressive role call of honor are no fewer than a dozen members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, with one sure-fire inductee (Jágr) on the way.
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View Comments
Some people on this site actually are employed in the sports world and see player development from the inside. You should get to know who you are talking to, the person at which you jab (I know it isn't me at which your barb was aimed, but still) just might be one of them.
Yes, Sullivan never gave young players a chance. You can tell by all the young players who left to blossom with others teams. For example, there's you favorite pet for example, Anthony Angelo.
Poor example Outsider, Angello was stuck in Pgh until he was 26. Five years of his seven prime years were used up and he hadn't been allowed to progress in those five years. The Penguins developmental team stunk. Players were not being challenged and had no upward mobility. Outside of Guentzel who walked on water and Simon who stunk to high Heaven yet was constantly given TOI with Crosby dragging the Captain down because he was the teachers pet, all other prospects were summarily banished for the most minor offense while Simon and high priced veterans still were afforded playing despite committing far more of the same offenses.
By the time he left Sullivan, Angello's skill set was were it was or even less because of the conflicting messages being sent by uneven application of expectations. There was no way he or any other "prospect" that toiled into the mid twenties and through their prime under the previous regime could recover unless they got while they were still true prospects like Gustavsson.
The Other Rick
In my view, the Penguins should fully leverage the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pipeline throughout the 2025–26 season. Rotating players between the AHL and NHL not only provides valuable exposure but also accelerates development. Ideally, prospects would be brought up for a 12–15 game stretch, given meaningful minutes, and then evaluated closely to identify areas for growth. From there, returning them to WBS for further seasoning ensures they continue to progress. This IMO would be a great development model that benefits both the players and the organization long term.
Hey Mike,
Thanks, as always, for commenting and sharing your thoughts. Given your experience and involvement in professional sports, your insights are especially appreciated and valued by me and Other Rick. Having done so yourself as a coach, you know first-hand what it takes to cultivate and development young talent. A process, I'm sure.
Hope you are well... :)
Rick
The Other Rick
Also, Hayes, Heinen and Acciari should never see the ice. In my humble opinion.
100% agreed MIke
Rick
Great articles - You're definitely taking a walk down memory lane. Just a couple of questions regarding the
Penguins HOF. What's the criteria? How long did a player need to play for the Pen's? Did the Pen's put
Michel Briere in there Hall of Fame? I know he's hanging in the rafters at PPG Paints Arena.
Players in question: Lowel McDonald "Century Line" with Apps & Pronovost. Sergei Gonchar, and players like
Phil Kessel & Patric Hornqvist. Is it based on Stanley Cups. Longevity with the Pen's or Stats?
I know you have your hands full but how about an article on the Pen's All-Time most underrated Players?
Hey Mike,
Funny you should mention Briere. When I first looked up the list of previous inductees on the Penguins' home page, I swear I saw Briere's name. When I went back and double-checked the list and saw he wasn't on it? Well, definitely a case of my brain wanting to put him there.
I'm not sure what the criteria is for enshrinement, although I'd guess longevity comes into play. However, I think in Michel's case, they should definitely make an exception.
As an aside, in the grand scheme of things I've always been fascinated by the fact that if you add Briere's No. 21 to Mario's No. 66, you get Sid's No. 87.
Almost as if it were predestined...literally written in the stars.
Rick
Rick,
Now that Sullivan is gone I am hoping kids like Broz get a real chance and don't languish in the minors until they are out of their prime. Whether this team still sees itself as a contender or is in full rebuild, the Acciari s, Harvey-Pinard s, Hayes s, Heinen s, and Novak s, need to be buried in WBS $6 million (plus change) in Cap space clearing the deadwood will yield and kids like Broz need to be given challenges that will help them grow into their full potential. Seems to me that there should be one fresh set of legs on each of the top 3 lines, if not all 4 with Koivunen, McGroarty, and Broz getting opportunities to earn a top 12 spot and maybe an Avery (not Kevin) Hayes given an opportunity to earn a Bottom 6. If they fail, then they fail but we already know Acciari, Harvey-Pinard, (Kevin) Hayes, Heinen, and Novak, are limited and past their prime - they will only be getting worse.
On the blue-line, I have only seen Brunick's highlights, I haven't seen his game action. In his highlights he looks great, but that is what highlights are for, to make someone look great, but with Letang, Karlsson, and Clifton, there may not be a need to rush him into a lineup. Free of Sullivan's inverted system, Letang and Karlsson can only look better.
As for Pickering he still hasn't shown that he was worth using a 1st round pick on him, but he is truly growing into an NHL level defenseman. Just like on the right side, we should see better play out of players like Graves, but I am hoping Pickering gets some playing time. He will only stagnate in WBS if he has to play a full season there.
In Silovs case, despite his AHL heroics of last season, the kid has shown absolutely nothing. I won't mind throwing him to the wolves if everyting else fails and let him and Jarry lead us to the bottom of the league for a 25% shot at McKenna but if this team starts to gel, Blomqvist needs to be the guy they ride with Murashov getting some looks, easing into NHL level experience.
In a couple of weeks, when the prospect tournament is held, I am also going to really interested in seeing what Tanner Howe, Emil Pieniniemi, and Max Graham look like, as well as Bill Zonnon, William Horcoff, and Peyton Kettles do. Howe, Graham, and Pieniniemi may be closer to NHL ready than some people think
Another story line I am interested in is Hallander. I am not sure why Dubas dragged him back across the pond or how he would react if he isn't given a legitimate shot at the NHL. Seems to be a long way to travel to be banished to the minors.
Hey Other Rick,
Agree about Hallander. Way easy to overlook that he's back in the fold. Would surely rather see him get a legit shot, even if he fails, than watch any number of spare-part veterans play out the string.
Not sure how Dubas is going to sort all this out. I can't imagine there's a huge market for the likes of Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes and Danton Heinen, who I actually don't mind but obviously don't want to see playing ahead of a worthy prospect.
Rick