TIOPS Plus +Circumstances, NHL Readiness has Zonnon getting light consideration for surprise roster spot

If you read any prospects ranking articles this summer that didn’t have 2025 1st round pick Bill Zonnon as Pittsburgh’s #1 or #2 forward prospect, don’t put much stock into them. How Pittsburgh’s system is viewed by rival clubs is what matters and there’s one common theme in Zonnon being regarded around the league as Pittsburgh’s top prospect heading into the season. Teams always overrate their own system and one thing you learn about your system is through higher-end trade talks. When Pittsburgh pursued Robert To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! Does Zonnon have star potential? Many scouts say no from an offensive production standpoint, but if you could build an all-around young player that Pittsburgh lacked in the Flyers series, Zonnon is it. The combination of size, speed, tenacity, all around ability in all three zones has him on a very fast track for NHL action. Enough so he’s giving the coaching staff a Ben Kindel type feel where Zonnon due to injuries and the tragic death of Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Zonnon enters the final weekend under ‘light’ consideration to start the season in Pittsburgh, per sources.

“He’s got speed, he’s got the ability to make plays. I think he’s got the ability to impact the game offensiely and through his work and tenacity, to impact it defensively,” head coach Dan Muse said.

Roster Buzz

Avery Hayes after a pretty solid camp was reassigned to Wilkes Barre Friday and the likes of Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are also expected to follow him on Sunday after Saturday’s preseason game. Hayes perfect role with this team is one of an emergency where he can slide in anywhere and give the group energy and I think the Penguins see that. Who are these fringe players head coach Dan Muse was talking about were better than Hayes in camp? Filip Hallander’s standout camp was also among the reasons even with injuries Hayes didn’t make it to the final weekend and Muse was pretty blunt where in their eyes, others have performed better, though, that’s up for debate from some observers. “He’s a good young player,” Muse said of Hayes. “I think there are guys thsat right now are ahead. You’ve got to get it down to numbers and other guys that have played better, or we feel like, right now are going to be a better fit.” Despite Muse’s comments, did Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen have better camps than Hayes? No, they didn’t. Obviously other factors go into this than others just purely beating you out.

Internally the Penguins in their decision making process are said to have went camp with a chart of certain depth players going head-to-head from a grading, fit perspective.

Notable ones per sources on where they stand heading into the weekend:

Elmer Soderblom > Justin Brazeau (day-to-day) | Soderblom has been a beast in camp and continues a nice trajectory after working his way into the lineup down the stretch last season. Size, speed, wall play has supplanted Brazeau who fell out of the lineup come playoff time and Pittsburgh bluntly believed his production was a fluke last season. Still, the front office wanted to give Brazeau an opportunity to hold off others. It remains to be seen what happens with Brazeau early in the season who is currently injured.

Filip Hallander > Avery Hayes | Strictly on-ice performance, Hayes camp appeared much closer to where he should have made to the final weekend, though, the Penguins saw a different view. Hallander has had the type of camp he needed to have to reinstall a comfort level from the coaching staff. A strong all-around game and Pittsburgh has more trusts with him on the penalty kill and defensive alignments.

Hendrix Lapierre > Tristan Broz | Buzz in camp is Broz has outperformed Lapierre and the Lapierre addition has always been one that stood out as a situation that would block To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Ville Koivunen > Rest of the Fringe Field | Koivunen has not had a good camp any means. Over the summer Pittsburgh pushed him to improve his lower body strength, change some aspects of protecting the puck down the low. The results with the little things just haven’t seen improvement, he’s getting knocked off the puck too easily, and his 1-on-1 individual ability just isn’t translating from the AHL in skilled practice setting drills where his type of talent should be standing out. However, he’s going to get To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Illya Solovnov > Owen Pickering/Ryan Graves | Owen Pickering was not making this team out of camp no matter how good he looked and he’s been very impressive. The front office blocked him with their summer depth moves and they’re not keeping Pickering to be the #7 defenseman. The competition for the 7th spot was essentially Solovnov vs Graves if you wanted to call it a competition by default due to the Graves contract. A second coaching now that thinks Graves is closer to an ECHL level player than a legitimate NHL defenseman. Among the craziest miscalculations was the Graves signing in 2023. [/hide]

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