Pittsburgh Penguins’ Top Prospects: Honorable Mentions Revealed

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back with their latest prospects rankings, and this year’s task proved to be a formidable challenge. General manager Kyle Dubas and his team have blurred the lines between high-potential prospects and those viewed as long shots, resulting in a depth of talent that makes ranking a top-20 list more complex than in previous years.

To qualify for this year’s list, players must be under 26 years old and have played fewer than 50 NHL games. This criterion means promising names like Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev did not make the cut.

Among those who narrowly missed the top 20 is 22-year-old undrafted center Calvert. After two standout seasons in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2022 to 2024, Calvert joined the Penguins on an amateur tryout (ATO) and subsequently signed an AHL contract. His impressive ECHL performance with the Wheeling Nailers during the 2024-25 season, where he netted 13 goals and totaled 36 points in 38 games, earned him a promotion to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). In 96 games with WBS, he has tallied 25 goals and 52 points. Earlier this summer, the Penguins recognized his potential by signing him to a two-year entry-level contract, indicating their belief in his continued development as a key player in the WBS top-six.

Another notable name is 20-year-old Fernstrom, who entered the 2025-26 season with a strong reputation after winning Rookie of the Year in the Swedish Hockey League. However, his performance took a dip last season, as he only managed three goals and four points in 36 games. Although Orebro HK considered loaning him to a lower league, the Penguins opted to bring Fernstrom back to North America. He showed promise in his brief stint with WBS, scoring two goals and eight points in 14 games before an injury cut his season short. With work needed on his skating and consistency, a strong year could see him re-enter the top-20 next season, putting him on track for NHL action.

Livanavage, a product of the University of North Dakota, signed a two-year entry-level contract last season, during which he played one NHL game. His offensive potential nearly secured him a spot on the list, as he recorded five goals and 25 points in 39 games last season. Known for his speed and power play prowess, he needs to refine his defensive skills to make a more significant impact. With the Penguins lacking depth on the left side of defense, Livanavage could emerge as a wildcard this season.

Lastly, 18-year-old Mbuyi stands out as a potential riser in the coming year. Selected 86th overall in the third round of this year’s draft, Mbuyi scored 32 goals and 75 points in 68 games for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack last season. Despite being slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, his tenacity, speed, and ability to find soft areas on the ice bode well for his future. Mbuyi will captain Owen Sound for the 2026-27 season before heading to Penn State University. If he continues on his current trajectory, he could easily break into the top-20 next year, proving to be a valuable third-round selection for the Penguins.

Other notable prospects include D Quinn Beauchesne, D Peyton Kettles, D Charlie Trethewey, F Jordan Charron, and G Gabriel D’Aigle.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.