Pittsburgh Penguins presented with new option for rookie defender after extended run of scratches
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The Penguins have now scratched teenage defenseman Harrison Brunicke for five straight games, which presents them with a new option for his development.
Sunday was the fifth consecutive scratch for Harrison Brunicke, meaning he has been out of eight of 11 games for the Penguins.
What the new option for Harrison Brunicke is
Per NHL analyst Kelsey Surmacz, Brunicke is now eligible for a five-game or 14-day AHL conditioning stint should the team choose to go that route.
The Penguins are 6-3-0 with Brunicke in the lineup and 3-2-4 without him, though his play noticeably dipped after Caleb Jones' injury.
Despite the recent scratches, Pittsburgh still brought him to Stockholm for the NHL Global Series, but he did not dress for either game.
Brunicke remains one game shy of burning the first year of his entry-level contract, while fellow rookie Ben Kindel has already crossed the 10-game threshold.
The 44th overall pick from 2024 earned a roster spot out of camp and has flashed moments of upside. The 6-foot-3 defender has one goal, a minus-4 rating, and the expected growing pains from adjusting to NHL speed.
Why the AHL isn't the only option for Harrison Brunicke
A return to the WHL is also on the table. If reassigned, he would rejoin the Kamloops Blazers and remain in junior hockey until their season ends, per CHL-NHL rules.
He can still be loaned to Team Canada for the World Juniors in December without affecting his NHL status.
While this stretch isn't what Brunicke envisioned, the long-term picture remains encouraging.
With either an AHL conditioning stint or a return to the WHL, regular minutes and a reset could put him in a position for a stronger push for an NHL role later this season, or heading into next year.
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