On January 5th, 2025, Owen Pickering, a defensive player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was seen competing against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Penguins are currently evaluating their younger players ahead of the regular season opener against the New York Rangers. Presently, the team has 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goalies on their active roster, with players like Rutger McGroerty and Vil Koivunen not yet included. The competition for defensive positions promises to be intense.
Owen Pickering, the Penguins’ 21st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, had his first NHL experience last season, playing 25 games after being called up mid-season from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) team. During those games, he scored a goal, earned three points, had a minus-five rating, and averaged nearly 15 minutes per game on ice. His initial performance impressed the team enough to keep him in the lineup despite the option to send him back, allowing him to play top-four defense minutes alongside Chris Letang. However, his performance dipped toward the end of his stint, leading to his reassignment to the AHL on January 25th.
Pickering is determined to secure a full-time spot in the NHL for the 2025-26 season and prove his worth. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he appears ready for the challenge, though competition is stiff, particularly on the left side of the Penguins’ defense. The team currently has four defenders on each side of the blue line: Eric Carlson, Chris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton on the right, and Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, and Alex Alexeyev on the left.
With Graves’ contract securing his spot and Shea re-signed, plus two new free-agent signings, Pickering faces an uphill battle to earn a spot on the roster without any roster changes before training camp. General Manager Kyle Dubas emphasized that Pickering must have an outstanding summer and training camp to increase his average ice time from around 12-13 minutes to 17-20 minutes per game to stand out.
Dubas also expressed doubts about Pickering being ready to step into a top-four role immediately, remarking that while he has experience, he might not yet be prepared for that level of responsibility. However, Pickering has the advantage of an unsettled left defense, meaning that if he impresses during training camp, he could earn a spot among the top two left-side defenders.
If the Penguins decide to invest in Pickering’s development, he is likely to start as a bottom-pair defenseman and will have limited ice time next season. Due to the crowded defensive lineup, it may be more beneficial for him to get significant minutes with WBS rather than minimal playing time in the NHL. Regardless, Pickering will be a key player to watch during training camp, and it appears the Penguins see him as a vital part of their future.
Fan Take: This update on Owen Pickering is crucial for hockey fans because it highlights the challenges and opportunities young talents face breaking into a competitive NHL roster. If Pickering can rise to the occasion, it could signal a promising new chapter for the Penguins’ defense and add excitement to the team’s future on the ice.
