The Pittsburgh Penguins will participate in the inaugural Prospect Tournament held from September 12-15 at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center in Detroit, Michigan.
The Penguins are one of four participating teams along with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, and will play three games total. Pittsburgh will open its play against the Blue Jackets on September 12 at 3:00 PM. Following that, the Penguins will take on the host Red Wings on September 13 at 7:00 PM and then conclude the tournament with a tilt against the Stars on September 15 at 10:30 AM. All three games will be streamed on the Penguins website.
Pittsburgh’s roster will consist of 27 players made up of 14 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders. The full roster, which will be coached by Kirk MacDonald, Nick Luukko, Brad Malone and Brad Ralph, can be seen here.
Appearing in game action for the first time in a Penguins sweater are Pittsburgh’s top-two 2026 draft picks Liam Ruck (1st round, 22nd overall) and Markus Ruck (2nd round, 39th overall). Joining the Ruck brothers in the tournament are three more of Pittsburgh’s 2026 draft picks, including defenseman Tomas Galvas (2nd round, 54th overall), forward Pierce Mbuyi (3rd round, 86th overall) and goaltender Matvei Nikonovich (5th round, 160th overall).
Defensemen Harrison Brunicke (2024, 44th overall) and Jake Livanavage (signed as a free agent on April 10, 2026), who both spent time with Pittsburgh last season, will be appearing in the Prospect Tournament as well. Other notable prospects playing for the Penguins will be forwards Bill Zonnon (2025, 22nd overall), Travis Hayes (2025, 105th overall), Jordan Charron (2025, 154th overall), Carter Sanderson (2025, 169th overall), Tanner Howe (2024, 46th overall) and Mikhail Ilyin (2023, 142nd overall), as well as defensemen Peyton Kettles (2025, 39th overall), Chase Pietila (2024, 111th overall) and Finn Harding (2024, 233rd overall).
Forward Atley Calvert, who signed an NHL contract with Pittsburgh this summer after playing the last two seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, will also be suiting up in the Prospect Tournament. Several other players who spent time with Pittsburgh’s AHL and ECHL affiliates last season are on the Penguins’ roster, including forwards Brayden Edwards, Max Graham, Daniel Russell and Tiernan Shoudy, as well as defenseman Broten Sabo. Defensemen Tyler Duke and Maleek McGowan, who have both signed contracts with the WBS Penguins next season, will also be representing the Penguins at the Prospect Tournament.
Defenseman Benett Kelly, as well as goaltenders Carter Casey and Xavier Wendt will be making their Prospect Tournament debuts with Pittsburgh.
