Penguins Assign Several Prospects to Their AHL Affiliate

The Pittsburgh Penguins have bolstered the roster of their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in advance of their opening round playoff series. General Manager Kyle Dubas announced that the following prospects, previously signed to NHL Entry Level Contracts (ELC), have been assigned to the Baby Penguins; Defensemen Owen Pickering and Emil Pieniniemi, and Forwards Ville Koivunen and Cooper Foster.

Pickering, Pieniniemi, and Foster were drafted by the Penguins. The 20-year-old Pickering, their top defensive prospect, was selected in the first round of the 2022 NHL draft, 22nd overall. Pieniniemi was selected in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, 91st overall. Like Pieniniemi, the 18-year-old Foster was a sixth round pick, 174th overall, last summer. Pickering signed his three year ELC in July 2022. It carries an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $918,333 when he is in the NHL. He recently completed his final season with Swift Current of the WHL. Pieniniemi, 19, comes over from Finland and Karpat of Liiga. He signed his three year, $870,000 AAV ELC in July 2023. The 18-year-old Foster spent the 2023-2024 season with the Ottawa 67s of the OHL. He doesn’t have an ELC, but a strong performance down the stretch and at training camp should prompt Dubas to offer Foster an ELC.

Koivunen was originally drafted and signed to an ELC by the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a key asset acquired by the Penguins in the Jake Guentzel trade. The 20-year-old Koivunen was second in scoring in Finland’s top professional league, Liiga, with 56 points. His 18 goals were tops among rookies. Those statistics are impressive in a league that is made up of older players that play a defensive style. He signed his ELC with Carolina in August 2021. It carries an AAV of $850,833 during its three year term.

Dubas may not be finished adding youth and energy to the Baby Pens. It is expected that #1 prospect, Brayden Yager, will be assigned to WBS if his junior playoffs with Moose Jaw

conclude before the WBS season ends. The Penguins' top prospect in 2023, 14th overall, Yager has seen his prospect status rise significantly this year. He has improved all aspects of his offensive game to match his intelligent and tenacious defensive work.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton begins the AHL playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The first game is April 24th in Wilkes-Barre. Game two takes place in Allentown. The Baby Penguins would host game three if it is necessary.

Draft Nation 2024-2025 team projections – Pickering, Pieniniemi, and Koivunen will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), Cooper to Ottawa (OHL), Yager to Moose Jaw

(WHL). Junior players under 20 must be returned to their junior teams if not in the NHL due to Canadian Hockey transfer rules.