2025-26 Hockey Season Overview
As the 2025-26 hockey season approaches its conclusion, many teams are entrenched in playoff battles. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who have a wealth of young talent, are now evaluating their prospects ahead of summer. A highlight of this evaluation is the annual Top 25 Under 25 list, which provides insight into the teams’ young prospects and their development since February.
Top 25 Under 25 Rankings
At the bottom of the list is Quinn Beauchense, who comes in at No. 25, with notable names following like Cruz Lucius at No. 24 and Travis Hayes at No. 23. The rankings continue with Brady Peddle at No. 22, Finn Harding at No. 21, and Sam Poulin at No. 20, culminating with Rutger McGroarty at the top as the organization’s most promising young player. A breakdown into tiers has been beneficial for gauging the development stages of these players.
Player Development Tiers
The first tier, categorized as “honorable mentions” for long-term prospects, includes Beauchense, Hayes, and Peddle, who briefly participated in amateur tryouts with Wilkes-Barre this season before being released due to roster constraints. While they didn’t play any AHL games, their experience with the organization offered valuable lessons in professionalism and the workings of a pro hockey team. Conversely, Cruz Lucius has opted to leave the Penguins organization to pursue free agency, indicating a shift in his career direction.
In tier six, with young talents still maturing, Avery Hayes and Tristan Broz have notably contributed to the Wilkes-Barre squad, becoming essential players rather than merely prospects. Meanwhile, Emil Pieniniemi is currently engaged in ECHL playoff action with Wheeling, while Finn Harding, though he enjoyed a solid rookie year, is trying to secure a consistent role amidst a competitive roster. Tanner Howe has also garnered attention for his recovery and recent performances, albeit with expectations moderated for an NHL debut this training camp.
The prospects in tier five highlight further intrigue despite needing patience. Melvin Fernström has yet to feature in playoff games while Peyton Kettles is sidelined due to injury. However, Mikhail Ilyin is making strides in the AHL playoffs, demonstrating improvement that crunches his regular-season numbers, hinting that he’s beginning to adapt to North American hockey.
Goaltenders and Seasoned Players
Moving to tier four, now dominated by young goaltenders, Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov have been acknowledged for their playoff performances, particularly Murashov, who has put together impressive statistics in the AHL playoffs. This emergence indicates a potentially bright future for Silovs and Murashov within the Penguins organization.
Shifting to more seasoned players in tiers three and two, Joel Blomqvist’s opportunities have been limited, overshadowed by Murashov. Owen Pickering has made an impact with a critical game-winning goal in the playoffs, though the organization appears to be cautious with expectations for him after extending Ilya Solovyov’s contract. Additionally, Ben Kindel had a promising NHL season despite a challenging conclusion, while Will Horcoff is set to return to the University of Michigan for another year amid expectations of development.
Top Performers
The highest tier features the top performers: Harrison Brunicke, Ville Koivunen, and Rutger McGroarty. Despite a season that may not have met the team’s overall ambitions, their exceptional contributions have been vital in the AHL playoffs, with Brunicke showing prowess as a top defenseman, Koivunen consistently scoring, and McGroarty coming through in clutch moments. Each is building momentum that may bode well for both Wilkes-Barre’s current playoff aspirations and Pittsburgh’s long-term prospects.
