With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 52 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.

This series is scheduled to be published every weekday leading into the second day of the NHL Draft on June 29.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)

Owen Pickering

Position: Defenseman

Shoots: Left

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 185 pounds

2023-24 WHL statistics: 59 games, 46 points (seven goals, 39 assists)

2023-24 WHL postseason statistics: Nine games, seven points (one goal, six assists)

Contract: Entering the first year of a three-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $886,667. Pending restricted free agent in 2027

(Note: Pickering is exempt from waivers for any assignment to a minor league affiliate.)

Acquired: First-round draft pick (No. 21 overall), July 7, 2022

This season: Things did not get off to a good start for Owen Pickering to open the 2023-24 campaign as an ankle injury he suffered during the offseason held him out for all of the Penguins’ training camp and preseason then kept him sidelined to open the Western Hockey League’s season.

After missing the Swift Current Broncos’ first six games, Pickering was back on the ice by Oct. 11, serving as that team’s captain for the second consecutive season.

While Pickering managed to generate satisfactory production with his base offensive figures once he was able-bodied, his injury played a role in Hockey Canada leaving him off that team’s roster for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior championship tournament in December and January.

Remaining with Swift Current for the entire season, Pickering was primarily stationed on the top pairing in five-on-five sequences and the top power play. Leading his team’s defensemen in scoring while managing to set career highs in assists and points, Pickering earned a selection to the WHL’s Central Division first All-Star team.

#LetsGoPens prospect Owen Pickering finishes off a lovely @SCBroncos sequence! #CHLGOTW pic.twitter.com/KEv3rIqIk7

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) March 16, 2024

That success helped lead the Broncos to the WHL’s Central Division title and a return to the postseason.

The Captain chimes in with his first of the playoffs!!

Owen Pickering has the @SCBroncos within one ????#letsgopens | #FeedtheFuture pic.twitter.com/sbRJby5bXH

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 17, 2024

After the Broncos were eliminated in the second round by the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors, Pickering was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to open the American Hockey League’s postseason but was scratched for each of that team’s playoff contests in an opening-round loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The future: Pickering will be making the jump to the professional ranks full-time beginning next season but he will likely open the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, as presently constructed, are pretty loaded on the left side of the blue line and Pickering could benefit from plenty of refinement before making a full-time jump to the NHL. While he has a large frame, he could stand to add some muscle in order to improve the defensive side of his game.

In the event of injuries or absences to the incumbents on the NHL roster, Pickering could very well merit a recall or two over the course of the 2024-25 campaign. But even as one of the organization’s top prospects, he still needs plenty of development as he takes his first steps as a professional.

Follow the Penguins all season long.

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