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Top Penguins Prospect Comments on His Future in Pittsburgh
Top Penguins prospect Cruz Lucius spoke about his future in Pittsburgh and stated that he could not be happier with where his game is and the team he's with.
The 2024-25 season brought on some serious changes in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, specifically regarding prospect Cruz Lucius' universe.
The 21-year-old right winger was sent to the organization at the 2024 trade deadline in the Jake Guentzel deal that sent shockwaves across the league.
Cruz Lucius spent two straight seasons with Wisconsin at their University, where he picked up 68 points in 70 games, at which point he later went to Arizona State University for the 2024-25 season.
"Obviously, it was a tough decision, but I couldn't be happier with where I'm at right now."
Lucius recently had surgery for an injured labrum
He recently underwent surgery to fix his injured labrum, and that made his comeback season even tougher.
"I feel really good," Lucius said during camp. "I think, throughout the start coming back, I had some ups and downs. But the training I've been doing this summer - whether it's skates or working out - I've been feeling back to myself now."
Lucius found the back of the net just twice and recorded 10 points in 19 games with ASU, but he felt like he was back in his element with the Penguins during the recent July development camp.
GM Kyle Dubas recently went all-in on prospect development. From assistant GM Jason Spezza to newest bench boss Dan Muse, it's all been about giving every single prospect his personal path to growth so that he can flourish.
Lucius relishes that type of care by coaches and GMs and indicated his shot and hockey IQ as major weapons, and he will look to improve his skating in the upcoming year.
"The development piece of it is, from what it seems like, next to none," Lucius said. "The amount of people that put their energy - and really, a lot of their energy - into each individual player, it's really, really cool to see. And I think that's something with my injury, seeing how great everyone was and how much help the organization was for even just some little things, too - before surgery, and after, and during.
"It's just really, really good, and they just want you to get better every single day."
"It's just really, really good, and they just want you to get better every single day."
Now behind him and done with the July development camp, he will concentrate his mind on the Prospects Challenge that is ahead in Buffalo, NHL training camp in September, and a chance to secure a roster spot in Pittsburgh for the 2025-26 season.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 26 | 61 ANSWERS Top Penguins Prospect Comments on His Future in Pittsburgh Will Cruz Lucius be one of Pittsburgh's best players in the future? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 49.2 % |
| No | 31 | 50.8 % |
| List of polls | ||