Top Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect on the Verge of Making Full-Time NHL Role

The AHL is a proving ground for some. For other prospects, it's where they hit a brick wall because they lack the skills or simply don't see eye-to-eye with the long-term vision. To succeed, they need to adapt, which some do, but others don't.

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Owen Pickering is making the adjustment. He's learning the AHL ways and winning through dramatic alterations in his style of play.

During his draft year, Pickering was best at his flashes of offense, zooming across the entire ice surface, using deceptive moves at the blue line, and beating the pressure.

His skating limited his creativity, but coaches hoped that mechanical improvement would unleash additional offensive upside.

Instead, his development path changed. Throughout the AHL and NHL this year, he simplified his game in the direction of speedy puck play over push on offense.

His focus is now to become a defensive solidity, cleaning up gap space early, blocking, and closing off passing lanes. His size and reach are his best assets now.

This risk-reduced route could lead him to a full-time NHL role sooner than anticipated. He has already played 25 games for Pittsburgh this season as a call-up. Patience could be the solution, however.

If the Penguins allow him time to develop in confidence and enhance his mobility, his puck-moving ability could return, elevating his ceiling to that of a top-four defenseman.