Every year right before training camp the Penguins send a roster of prospects to compete against other team’s prospect pool. For many years, the Penguins didn’t have too much in terms of talent to send. The tides are shifting the Penguins 2026 prospect tournament roster is absolutely loaded, with the Ruck twins, Harrison Brunicke, Bill Zonnon, Jake Livanavage, Mikhail Ilyin and several other prospects headed to Detroit.
Obviously, Penguins fans will get their first look at the twins in a Pen’s jersey. I know for development camp they split the twins up, but I really hope they let them play together for the prospect tournament. The chemistry they have with one another is amazing to watch and I think the Penguins would be best suited to see how that works at a somewhat pro level. Oh, and in a couple years the Penguins might be able to add the third Ruck as their younger brother is officially playing with them this season in Medicine Hat.
The Penguins will also be sending some players with some actual pro experience. Bill Zonnon, Harrison Brunicke, Tanner Howe, Mikhail Ilyin, and more will be making the trip to Detroit to compete. This roster is loaded with players some of which figure to wear a real sweater for the NHL team at some point this season or next. For one player in particular, this tournament could be of real value and that player is Brunicke. It’s no secret that Brunicke had an odd season. Harrison was in Pittsburgh until December, which included a WBS conditioning stint, last season but only played nine games. He was sent to World Juniors and then back to regular Juniors and then back to Wilkes Barre to finish the season. While in Wilkes, Brunicke put together one hell of a playoff run as he was routinely dubbed the best baby Penguin during that run. It was looking as if he was putting his game completely together and he would be around the big boys club for this entire season. Then Dubas traded for Korczak and that plan seemingly went out the window. Both Korczak and Brunicke play the right side, furthermore Korczak is signed for multiple seasons. Brunicke will need to be near flawless throughout this tournament, and training camp, to have any consideration for the roster. Obviously, I don’t anticipate him making the roster but a good showing in a few days might increase his chances. His chances at playing on his correct side are basically slim to none because of Korczak so it will be interesting to see if the Penguins choose to deploy him at all on his off-side. If Brunicke were to make the Penguins it would almost certainly be on the left side for the third pairing. It’s rare to see a defenseman, especially a young one, thrive on his off-side but Brunicke did play a ton of minutes for Wilkes Barre on the left side faring quite well. This prospect tournament will be his first chance to show he can hang on either side of the blue line.
Other NHL hopefuls Bill Zonnon, Mikhail Ilyin, and Jake Livanavage need to have a good tournament. They have all had some sort of taste of pro hockey before. None of them are really in line to make the Penguins out of camp but they are certainly in line to be a call up this season. They need to build out their resumes to earn a higher spot on the call-up list. Zonnon in particular has the first-round pedigree. Bill was great for the baby Pens during their playoff run and will likely be the first line center down in Wilkes this season. I’d expect him to make the team next season but that doesn’t mean he cannot make a cameo at some point this year. To get his cameo appearance he will need to produce, and a prospect tournament is a good place to start. Zonnon should be one of the better players in the entire tournament and much like Brunicke if he shows well, he could earn himself a sweater in Pittsburgh a little faster than anticipated.
Penguins 2026 Prospect Tournament Roster: Who Reaches Pittsburgh First?
Looking at the roster here are my rankings of players we will see in Pittsburgh. The ranking isn’t necessarily who I think is the best player but just the timelines in which they will get playing time in the NHL.
- Harrison Brunicke
- Jake Livanavage
- Bill Zonnon
- Mikhail Ilyin
- Finn Harding
- Chase Pietila
- Peyton Kettles
- Liam Ruck
- Tanner Howe
- Marcus Ruck
More players, than the one’s I listed, will be at the tournament obviously. Some of them may eventually reach the NHL, but for now these are the 10 attending that I believe have a decent shot at playing in Pittsburgh in the somewhat near future. It could be a couple of years away, as I don’t expect the Ruck’s until at least the 2028 season, but they will get their chance.
The only prospect that won’t be available for the tournament, that we expected to see, is goaltender Gabriel D’Aigle. It’s a shame he won’t be available because I think he could eventually be a great 1B to Murashov.
