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There are some exciting developments down on the farm for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With more talent in the system than they’ve had in recent memory, the Penguins have several prospects of interest to keep an eye on. Today, we will take a look at how some of the organization’s top defensive prospects are faring this season.
Harrison Brunicke
If there is one defensive prospect that has piqued the interest of pretty much everyone, it’s Harrison Brunicke.
The Johannesburg, South African-born Brunicke, 18, was drafted 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024. Of all of the Penguins’ prospects in training camp this season, he was the one who turned the most heads, as he looked far more advanced than anyone had expected.
He had already been known for his defensive awareness. But his speed, skating, vision, and offensive instincts were also on display during training camp, showcasing his all-around game. Brunicke didn’t look out of place at all in pre-season action, either.
In fact, his pre-season nearly led to a nine-game trial at the beginning of the regular season, with head coach Mike Sullivan saying Brunicke “made an impression on everybody.” Unfortunately – given the Penguins’ logjam of forwards and their forward injury situation to start the season – Brunicke was reassigned to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, where he must spend the remainder of their season.
It started off well for Brunicke, as he registered three goals and 12 points in 15 games. However, on Nov. 11, Brunicke sustained a fracture to his wrist, and he has been out ever since. The injury forced him to pass on Team Canada’s invite to their World Junior Championship camp, as he was not medically cleared to participate.
He is expected to make a return to the lineup soon for the Blazers, whose regular season runs through Mar. 22. At 15-21-3 and sitting 10th out of 11 teams in the WHL’s Western Conference, the playoffs are certainly not looking like a sure thing for Kamloops this season.
If everything goes well health-wise and performance-wise upon his return, Brunicke would be eligible to get a recall to the NHL once the Blazers’ season concludes. It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened. The organization is certainly very high on this guy – and the Penguins are in short supply of right-shot defensemen.
Emil Pieniniemi
Perhaps one of the Penguins’ most intriguing prospects is Emil Pieniniemi, who was drafted by the Penguins in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Fresh off of a silver-medal effort at the World Junior Championship – where he registered two goals and an assist over six games and earned Player of the Game honors for Team Finland during the gold medal game – Pieniniemi has registered a goal and two assists in two OHL games since.
Pieniniemi has five goals and 37 points in 34 games for the Kingston Frontenacs, and he is seventh among all OHL defensemen in scoring this season. His physicality, strength on the puck, skating, and ability on the offensive blue line have all been on display.
He has quickly grown into one of the Penguins’ top prospects – and, certainly, one of their top defensive prospects – and the left-shot blue liner will be a prospect to keep an eye on in training camp next season.
Finn Harding
Right behind Pieniniemi in OHL scoring among defensemen at eight is Finn Harding with five goals and 36 points in 39 games for the Brampton Steelheads. He was drafted in the seventh and final round by the Penguins in 2024, and he has enjoyed a solid season for his junior team so far.
Harding profiles as a smooth-skating defenseman with some offensive upside, and on the defensive side, his gap control and ability to take angles away shines. He is definitely a raw prospect with a lot of development left, but he is already tracking to have value above his seventh-round selection.
Isaac Belliveau
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Isaac Belliveau spent his first full season in professional hockey with the Wheeling Nailers last season. In 70 ECHL games, he registered 14 goals and 38 points and led Nailers’ defensemen in points.
Even though his offensive game had shown a lot of potential, there were still some kinks to be worked out in his defensive game. He does only have one goal and six points in 19 games this season in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but his defensive works seems to have taken some steps.
The 22-year-old defenseman probably needs to show a bit more from his offensive game at a higher level before he earns a promotion to the NHL level. He is likely still a season or so away.
