Rookie Defenseman Harrison Brunicke Travels to Sweden with Penguins Amidst Contract Decision

Pittsburgh Penguins rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke, 19, has joined the team for the NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden, despite being a healthy scratch for seven of the last ten games. The Penguins are still deciding on Brunicke's future; he is one game away from activating his three-year entry-level contract, having played nine NHL games. Drafted 44th overall in 2024, Brunicke has one goal and a minus-4 rating. Options for the 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner include re-assignment to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers, an AHL conditioning stint, or a loan to Team Canada for the World Juniors in late December. Keeping him beyond January 3, the 40th game, would result in the Penguins losing a year of team control.