Pittsburgh will also play games on Saturday, September 8 at 3:30 PM against the Devils and on Monday, September 10 at 12:30 PM versus the host Sabres. Sam Kasan will be on hand to provide coverage of the Prospects Challenge on the @PensInsideScoop Twitter account, and on the Penguins' official website and app.
For this year's Prospects Challenge, the Penguins have invited 24 players, including forward Jordy Bellerive, who led Pittsburgh in scoring during last year's Prospects Challenge with four goals and seven points in three contests. Bellerive used his breakout performance in Buffalo to sign his entry-level contract with the Penguins.
Pittsburgh's roster (
click here to view
), which includes 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders, also features forward Adam Johnson, who spent his first full professional season last year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Johnson, whose 70 AHL appearances last year with WBS give him the most North American professional experience of the group, scored 11 times and totaled 31 points.
This year's rookie tournament will offer the first chance for Penguins' fans to see a pair of 2018 draft picks - defenseman Calen Addison and forward Justin Almeida - play a competitive game in a Pittsburgh sweater. Both players, along with Bellerive, were among the invites to Team Canada's World Junior Showcase camp in early August, making all three candidates to represent Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championship (Bellerive had to decline the invite as he recovered from a June campfire incident, and Almeida had to decline because of illness).
Addison was the Pens' top pick, having been chosen in the second round (53rd overall). His 65 points (11G-54A) last season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League were second on the club behind only Bellerive. Almeida, who was drafted in the fifth round (129th overall) is also coming off a high-scoring year in the WHL, having finished 10th in league scoring with 98 points (43G-55A) in 72 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Clark Donatelli will be behind the bench for the Prospects Challenge. He'll be joined by his assistants, J.D. Forrest and Jarrod Skalde.
Pittsburgh Penguins' 2018 Prospects Challenge Schedule
Friday, September 7
3:30 PM - Game vs. Boston
Saturday, September 8
3:30 PM - Game vs. New Jersey
Monday, September 10
12:30 PM - Game vs. Buffalo
