Owen Pickering To Make NHL Debut

Owen Pickering, a 20-year-old defenseman and the Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, is set to make his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks after being recalled from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Pickering has played 12 AHL games this season, recording one goal and a +5 rating, and has been praised by his AHL coach for his performance. The Penguins have been struggling defensively this season, and Pickering's addition comes at a critical time, especially following a poor outing from veteran defenseman Ryan Graves. Other rookies in the lineup include Jack St. Ivany and Vasily Ponomarev, signaling a shift towards a younger roster. This marks a significant step in Pickering's professional career, as he transitions from a successful junior hockey background to the NHL stage.