WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The 2024-25 regular season may still be a month away, but the start of hockey is right around the corner…
Once again, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be participating in the Prospects Challenge tournament in Buffalo, New York next week. The event has become a staple on the organization’s calendar in recent years, signaling an *unofficial* start to hockey season.
Pittsburgh, along with the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators, are sending some of their top young talent for several exhibition games to help further prepare them for their upcoming seasons and training camp battles. Of course, the event serves as a delicious appetizer for hockey fans before the real deal starts in October.
Here is what Penguins fans need to know about the 2024 Prospects Challenge, including the roster, schedule, and storylines to follow…
THE PLAYERS
Pittsburgh announced its Prospects Challenge roster on July 30. The 25-player roster includes more than a handful of players who either played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season and/or are projected to play for the AHL Penguins this season. Those names include the likes of Vasily Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Logan Pietila, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Atley Calvert, Jack Beck and Gabe Klassen on the forward side, Isaac Belliveau, Scooter Brickey and Owen Pickering on defense, and Taylor Gauthier and Sergei Murashov in net.
• PITTSBURGH vs. BOSTON – Friday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m.
• PITTSBURGH vs. OTTAWA – Saturday, Sept. 14, 12:00 p.m.
• PITTSBURGH vs. BUFFALO – Monday, Sept. 16, 5:00 p.m.
All games will take place at LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo, New York.
There are currently no plans to livestream the games. However, the Penguins will have boots on the ground covering the event. Fans can follow along through social media with @PensInsideScoop, and postgame notebooks will be posted here on wbspenguins.com.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
PONO’S GIDDYUP – Vasily Ponomarev was a key part of the package the Penguins received in return for Jake Guentzel prior to last season’s NHL trade deadline. The 22-year-old, who made his NHL debut earlier in the year, came to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with high marks from Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas. However, just as he was finding a groove with his new team, he suffered a season-ending lower-body injury.
Now healthy, Buffalo will be our first look at how Ponomarev is feeling after that untimely injury. Furthermore, he’s the only player on the Penguins roster with any NHL experience, leading one to believe he’ll log a ton of minutes in important situations.
TONE BETWEEN THE POSTS – The Penguins have three goalies on their roster, two of which are entering a season rife with intrigue. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling Nailers fans are already aware of Taylor Gauthier, who is coming off of a season in which he won ECHL Goalie of the Year. A name people are less familiar with is Russian prospect Sergei Murashov. Murashov was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 and has since put up impressive numbers in the Russian junior league as well as in a small sample size at the KHL level.
One would think Gauthier and Murashov will split time in the crease across the Penguins’ three games. Their performances could set an early tone for what promises to be an incredibly deep goaltending pipeline and a fascinating training camp competition.
PROSPECTS – This event is not only a competitive tuneup for Penguins players who are playing pro this season, but also for those who will be stowed away in the pipeline for future years. Top picks from this past draft Harrison Bunicke and Tanner Howe will be there, and 2023 third-round defenseman Emil Pieniniemi will kick off his first full season in North America at this event.
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