After an extended NHL spell during his first professional season, Owen Pickering only saw four NHL contests in 2025-26, dropping his down the rankings and leaving many questions to be answered for the former first round pick as the new season approaches.
Catch up on the previous entries for this year:
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Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila, D
#24: Ryan Miller, F
#23: Finn Harding, D
#22: Peyton Kettles, D
#21: Zam Plante, F
#21: Brady Peddle, D
#20: Melvin Fernstrom
#19: Tanner Howe
#18: Tomas Galvas
#17: Pierce Mbuyi
#16: Jake Livanavage
#20: Owen Pickering, D
2025 Ranking: #8
Age: 22 (January 27, 2004)
Acquired Via: 2022 NHL Draft, 1st round, 21st overall
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 201 pounds
Elite Prospects resume:
Selected in the first round back in 2022, Owen Pickering figured to be an important piece of the Penguins blue line in the future, but now, over four years on from being drafted, that potential has not come to fruition for the young defenseman who spent most of 2025-26 in the minors with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
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Pickering made his long anticipated NHL debut during the 2024-25 season, staying with the club for over a quarter of the season, appearing in 25 games for the Penguins, scoring his first career NHL goal in the process and adding a pair of assists. There were times during this stretch where he looked the part of an NHL defenseman, but it was clear he still needed more time in the AHL and was sent back down.
After getting a taste of the NHL, it was expected that Pickering was going to battle for a full time roster spot in 2025-26, but with a crowded depth chart entering camp and questions on his NHL readiness coming from the front office, Pickering was going to need to turn in something truly special to make the opening night roster.
Ultimately, Pickering was not on the NHL roster for opening night and began the season back in the AHL, but he figured to be on the short list for a call up when injuries inevitably hit and they needed reinforcements in the NHL. That call came for Pickering pretty early in 2025-26, getting recalled to the NHL at the end of October, making his season debut for the Penguins on October 28th in Philadelphia.
His recall was brief, playing in just four games for the Penguins before being returned to Wilkes-Barre. That was the first and only call up of the season for Pickering, adding more questions than answers to where exactly his development is at this point in his career.
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While Pickering saw limited time in the NHL this season, he put together a solid AHL campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, playing in 68 of the team’s 72 games, scoring seven goals with 21 assists, setting career highs across the board. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, Pickering played an additional 11 games, scoring once to help the Penguins beat the Hershey Bears, but saw his season come to an untimely end due to a broken foot.
With his second pro season now in the rearview, focus turns to the future for Pickering and the Penguins where there are still many questions left to be answered about where exactly Pickering fits in with this Penguins team and where exactly his development stands.
Pickering is a left handed defenseman who played on the left side of the blue line for Wilkes-Barre Scranton last season, a position where the Penguins are currently very thin. Glancing at the NHL roster, the Penguins only have three left handed defenseman under contract for the 2026-27 season, seemingly opening the door for the former first round pick heading into the new season.
Per Trib Live:
Is Pickering able to finally stake a claim for that spot? It’s a good question. By most accounts, he had a satisfactory season toward his development, largely offering a safe, reliable defensive game.
While he is a large human, Pickering isn’t overly physical. And his offensive contributions will always be limited.
But Dubas, in his season-ending media availability on May 12, declared Pickering “found his role.”
Now, it’s time for him to find a role in the NHL.
When the Penguins convene for training camp next month, Pickering will arrive hoping to lock down a full time NHL roster spot. With a lack of left handed defenseman currently on the Penguins roster, there will be a golden opportunity for Pickering to step up and show he belongs. It seems the Penguins still believe in him as a player, so the onus is on him to make this opportunity count.
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Development is not linear for prospects and there are expected to be ups and downs along the way. Some fans may have found last season disappointing for Pickering, and he may likely feel the same after getting a long NHL look the season prior, followed by just a cup of tea the next time around.
This season is the final year of Pickering’s entry level deal with the Penguins and there is no better way to earn a second contract than showing up to training camp and claiming ownership to one of the available roster spots on that left side of the Penguins blue line. Pickering will be given every chance to earn that role, but it’s up to him to play like the first round pick every one thought he was four years ago.
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