Opinion: Owen Pickering Has Earned His Way Onto This Penguins’ Team — And He Needs To Be Rewarded

The Pittsburgh Penguins are approaching final roster cuts ahead of their concluding pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres. Defenseman Owen Pickering is contending for an NHL roster spot after spending substantial time developing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL, where he recorded seven goals and 28 points in 68 games.

Pittsburgh General Manager Kyle Dubas previously stated that young prospects who clearly push their way onto the team will earn spots over veterans. Pickering dealt with limited NHL stints in past seasons but showed consistent improvement during the AHL regular season and the Calder Cup Playoffs.