Prior to selecting the 18-year-old with the No. 21 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft on July 7, Pittsburgh hadn't chosen a defenseman in the first round since 2012, when it picked Derrick Pouliot at No. 8 and Olli Maatta at No. 22.
Maatta would go on to win the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, leaving a mark Pickering would like to replicate.
"I can't really describe it," Pickering said at the draft. "It's the best feeling in the world."
Pickering's selection, the second by Pittsburgh in the first round since 2015 (Sam Poulin, No. 21 in 2019 Draft), was announced by long-time Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who earlier that day had agreed to a six-year, $36.6 million contract ($6.1 million average annual value).
Pickering is hoping those six years are enough for the two of them to become teammates.
"To have Kris Letang announce it, just kind of in awe. Super special," Pickering said. "He is a great defenseman, fun to watch. Just got extended. So you obviously look up to guys like that."
For now, Pickering will likely return to Swift Current of the Western Hockey League, where he had 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists) in 62 games last season.
One thing Pickering will look to do in Swift Current is fill out his 6-foot-3, 179-pound frame. Just three years ago, he stood 5-6 and was 130 pounds.
"It kind of came gradual," Pickering said. "There are some tall, tall genes on my dad's side. Kind of 6-foot-7, 6-foot-9. I don't think I'll be that tall, but my immediate family, my dad's 6-foot-1, my mom's 5-foot-6. So not super tall. But obviously, kind of welcomed it. It's obviously been a positive."
By learning to utilize that size, the Penguins hope that Pickering can add more physicality to his game without sacrificing any skill.
"You'd like to draft big players with lots of skill, lots of hockey sense and lots of speed," Pittsburgh general manager Ron Hextall said. "They're not there very often. With Owen, we feel like he is a big kid -- I think he was 5-foot-9 a couple of years ago -- so there is a lot of potential for growth there in terms of in his body and in his game."
Pittsburgh held its prospect development camp at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex from July 10-14, giving Pickering a quick turnaround from the NHL Draft.
However, he would go on to have a successful camp, and two days later, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract.
"Spending some time with him here, getting to know him, he really came in with an open mind," Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "He wants to learn. He wants information. That's the best thing you can ask for with a young draft pick."
After getting his first taste of the NHL during development camp, Pickering said he's now looking forward to joining the more veteran players at training camp in a few months.
"The people in the organization are top-notch," Pickering said. "Super excited to be part of the Penguins. Can't wait to come back in September."
