Well, this is interesting
The Pittsburgh Penguins have begun the point of the season where call-ups are being made. Most have made a lot of sense. Sam Poulin played well in the AHL and is on the fringe of being an NHL player, call him up? Sure. Vasily Ponomarev is the best center prospect on the team and there was an injury to Blake Lizotte. No surprise to call him up.
But this one is interesting. Owen Pickering was called up on Friday.
The Penguins have recalled defenseman Owen Pickering from the @WBSPenguins (AHL). pic.twitter.com/O6oEeQXhWS
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 15, 2024
Pickering, 20, has been in the AHL to start his pro career this season. He only has one point, a goal, in 12 games in Wilkes. He’s played mostly on the second and third pair, and aided quite a bit from top goaltending by Filip Larsson (and Tristan Jarry before him). That raises a lot of questions. Why now? Is he ready? Is someone hurt?
The Pens could use the help, their defense has been an abject disaster this season and the left side has been poor overall. Where is Pickering going to fit in?
WB/S coach Kirk MacDonald was highly complimentary of the job Pickering has done in the minors.
WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald has been very complimentary of LD Owen Pickering's play in the AHL this season despite his stat line (12GP, 1G-0A).
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) November 15, 2024
"He's been outstanding. Anybody who thinks otherwise is obviously not watching the games, for sure," MacDonald told @InsideAHLHockey.
The answers aren’t known quite yet but it’s an interesting choice for a team in Pittsburgh that’s getting younger by the day as of late.
