Penguins Grades: The Prospects vs. CBJ; The Good…and Bad

September 25, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

COLUMBUS — It was largely the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ prospects vs. the NHL regulars for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins effort resulted in a step-for-step performance but ultimately their mistakes quickly resulted in Columbus goals in a 4-0 loss at Nationwide Arena.

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Perhaps to Columbus’ detriment, or to the Penguins’ credit, the Penguins’ prospects largely controlled the play in the first period. In fact, it was the Penguins’ prospects closest to the NHL who showed well.

The line of Tristan Broz centering Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty was the Penguins’ most productive. The Wilkes-Barre kids pushed the play and controlled the puck deep, though they didn’t make the last connection to create a high-danger scoring chance.

Overall, McGroarty-Broz-Koivunen had five shot attempts in the first 20 minutes, the best of any line. However, as part of their push, the prospects line passed up a couple of shots (specifically, McGroarty’s) that would have been good scoring chances.

Conversely, Ryan Graves had an abysmal first period. His defense partner Caleb Jones wasn’t in sync, either. Graves had a couple of outlet passes that doinked off the back of his wingers, and he was twisting and turning to cover the coming play, but had to scramble into position. However, just like his previous outing, Graves rebounded from a rock-bottom first period to play with some anger and aggression in the second … until the final shift when his turnover was almost immediately in the back of his net.

Despite the Penguins’ puck possession, they trailed 3-0 after two periods. Columbus scored in short bursts and made the makeshift Penguins lineup pay for mistakes.

The second period was quite an entertaining period, with end-to-end action, few whistles, and good speed. Yet, neither team was peppering the goalies with shots. The attempts were 24-24 after 40 minutes, but the shots on goal were merely 9-7 for Columbus.

The Penguins had several stretches in the third period in which they were desperate but they never had that great chance to light the lamp.

Scoring

Midway through the first period, Ilya Solovyov didn’t get the strong position near the crease, and Zach Werenski’s point shot sailed through that traffic past Sergei Murashov at 11:48 of the first. The goal followed some puck fumbling by Solovyov’s defensive partner, Jake Livanavage, which allowed Columbus to gain entry and apply pressure.

Columbus’s second goal was also on Solovyov and Livanavage after they were not smooth with the puck at center. Solovyov eventually turned it over at the red line, then allowed Valeri Nichushkin to get inside position on the rush. Nichushkin swept past Murashov with a backhander at 14:42 of the second.

Graves’s mistake late in the second period was costly. Despite no pressure, his outlet pass from the defensive zone wasn’t near any Penguins, and Columbus quickly transitioned to attack. Graves remained on the right and didn’t slide to cover the center as his D partner, Caleb Jones, faced two rushers. Ultimately, Coyle got the edge on Jones, who was caught between Coyle and Nichushkin. Coyle gave Danton Heinen a layup at 19:45.

The Penguins pushed hard for a goal in the final minutes, especially the Kids line, but Kirill Marchenko added a 100-foot empty netter.

Penguins Report Card

Team: B

It was a spirited but low-event game. Make no mistake, this is the type of game a rebuilding team plays in the regular season—it’s prospects and young players giving 100% but making a few mistakes, like passing up shots, and subpar veterans making mistakes that lead to goals.

If the Penguins are stripped down later in the season, learn to enjoy these types of games.

“They worked. I mean, you saw it from the first shift. I think you saw it through the last shift. I know the guys–they worked, and you know that’s what we asked them coming into it,” coach Dan Muse said. “It was a great opportunity for a lot of guys here tonight in terms of coming in here and playing against a pretty veteran group for Columbus (with) a lot of guys that have been in the league for a long time and (have done) some great things in the league … (our guys) getting an opportunity to come in here and show what they can do against them. I thought the guys worked.”

Owen Pickering: B

A trusted hockey source directed PHN to look closely at a couple of Pickering’s plays. Overall, he was solid, not on the wrong end of any goals and did not make any costly mistakes. But the little detractors that coaches will notice were Pickering’s stick in the wrong place on a couple of near scoring chances. The end result shows that Pickering could play in the league right now, but could wouldn’t be hurt with a little more seasoning, a few more games to work on the finer details that most won’t notice, but could be cleaned up.

Harrison Brunicke: B+

As the game picked up, so did Brunicke. He was on his toes against NHL competition. He was scored with several turnovers, but none were notable. His speed showed, as did his aggressiveness.

The “Kids” Line (McGroarty-Broz-Koivunen): Good and Improving

They had a lot of shot attempts, but weren’t dangerous in the first period, began to find their teeth in the second, and attacked in the third.

This is the immediate future of the Penguins prospect pool. Before Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff and the rest of the 2025 class land, this line is the flag bearer for the Penguins youth. Their comments after the game were as telling as the game, and Muse had grounded praise for them as they faced an NHL lineup.

“I think you saw them finding some chances there, even late in the game, they had some good looks,” Muse said. “So I think as the game went on, they were able to kind of create a little bit more in terms of some of that offense, whether it was off the rush, counter, or in zone.”

Tristan Broz didn’t have a scoring chance on the scoring sheet (but he actually did in the second period–a good shot from deep in the zone). As the Penguins prospect whose future is the most cloudy, his game grew as they line gained confidence through the game.

“(It went well). I mean, I feel like aside from that goal we let up tonight, we controlled most of the play. We’re weren’t out there for much against,” said Broz. “You know, we killed plays, got out of our zone … I feel like they didn’t have much, and once we got a chance to break it out, we did. So yeah, I feel like the more I can play with and against NHL players, the more I’ll get control with those reads.”

And therein lies the conundrum with the Penguins hybrid rebuild. Players like Broz won’t get many of those chances against NHL players to keep improving. On one side of the argument, players have to earn more chances to get to play in the NHL, but on the other, they improve more when they do play in the NHL.

Ville Koivunen also gets good marks for his performance Thursday. While it wasn’t as a performance that resulted in a goal, and he still isn’t being a physical agitator at the NHL level, it was his best showing in some time. He made some slick plays on the rush, some good distributions in the offensive zone, and held up his part defensively against NHL competition.

Soderblom-Dewar-Filip Hallander: A

“They were awesome,” Muse said.

Bear in mind, with injuries to Blake Lizotte and Ben Kindel potentially extending into the season, this could be the fourth line on opening night, so it was important they played well. And they very much performed the role of a good fourth line–they had a positive shot attempt rate, had four of the five high-danger chances when they were on the ice, and set the tone for the team.

Filip Hallander was especially good. His complete game showed–he was good in all three zone. Hallander caused some disruption on the forecheck and was able to get to the net.

Sergei Murashov: B

His best stretch was the first 10 minutes of the second period when Columbus pressed the Penguins. He made several good saves, and kicked out some high-danger chances.

But, his long … LONG pause when asked about his performance spoke volumes about his desire to be great, but also where is he right now. He could have stopped a couple of the goals, but that was a solid performance nonetheless.

The first goal was a bit of inexperience as he didn’t track it through traffic. It happens to all goalies, especially with a sharpshooter like Zach Werenski at the point.

On the third goal, he made a brilliant lateral save but it dribbled behind him and he lost it. It’s understandable that he might have been frustrated by that one, but his defensemen–Graves especially–needed to bail him out by clearing the loose puck in the blue paint. Instead, Heinen won the puck. Danton Heinen.

Lightning Round

Ilya Solovyov: Several mistakes with the puck. One was costly. Not his best.

Ryan Graves: An implosion. He was rough in the first period, rebounded in the second, but the gaffe at the end of the second was brutal.

The Rest: A good effort. The Penguins really did give it a go. Many of the other players who are headed to Wilkes-Barre in the next few days had good moments they can tout and gain some confidence.

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