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Promising Pittsburgh Penguins prospect sends his coaches a message: 'I want to play'
Promising Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke has been a healthy scratch for weeks, and he sent his coaches a message, saying he wants to play but will be patient.
Rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke did not dress for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a bunch of their games recently. They host the Minnesota Wild on Friday, and whether or not Brunicke gets to dress for that one is still unknown at this point.
His development plan is one of the key points being discussed at this point in the season.
The number of consecutive games that Harrison Brunicke has been scratched
The 19-year-old Brunicke has been sitting out as a healthy scratch for five consecutive games, making him eligible to go to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a conditioning assignment.
When it comes to junior-eligible players being assigned to the AHL, exemptions do exist. Brunicke received one last season because Kamloops didn't make it to the playoffs in the WHL.
Brunicke is also at nine games this season and thus at the point where his entry-level contract term technically begins its first full season if he plays one more game.
What is now needed is a determination by Pittsburgh whether to continue his development in the NHL or to send him down.
Yesterday at practice in Cranberry, Brunicke skated on a scratch pair with bench blueliner Matt Duma.
Why this extended period of not playing is new for Harrison Brunicke
When asked if any concrete action is to come now from his organization, Brunicke just shook his head and said he doesn't know what's planned at this point, but it's new for him to sit for this length of time for any other reason besides being hurt.
"I don't really think it's my place to tell," Brunicke said. "They have a plan for me, and my job is to just show up and be my best every single day and take everything in. Learn as much as I can. That's what I'm focused on."
"I want to play," Brunicke said. "Right now, it's obviously tough watching all the time. It's my job to show up and do the best I can. My time will come. They have a plan for me."
"I want to play," Brunicke said. "Right now, it's obviously tough watching all the time. It's my job to show up and do the best I can. My time will come. They have a plan for me."
His last outing was on November 3 in Toronto. The team's plans for what is to come have yet to be clarified by head coach Dan Muse.
Brunicke's NHL experience is still very limited. This is simply one step for Brunicke, and any progress at all is good for his development at this point. But for now, Brunicke will have to continue to wait for his chance.
Brunicke's NHL experience is still very limited. This is simply one step for Brunicke, and any progress at all is good for his development at this point. But for now, Brunicke will have to continue to wait for his chance.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 20 | 40 ANSWERS Promising Pittsburgh Penguins prospect sends his coaches a message: 'I want to play' Will Harrison Brunicke play another NHL game this season? | ||
| Yes | 23 | 57.5 % |
| No | 17 | 42.5 % |
| List of polls | ||