Pickering was assigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh recalled Ryan Graves from the minors in a corresponding move. Pickering hasn't earned a point in four NHL outings this season while supplying one shot on goal, two blocked shots and one hit. He has one goal and three assists in seven AHL appearances this campaign.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Called up from minors
Rotowire
Pickering was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.
Pickering is far from a lock to get into the lineup versus the Flyers on Tuesday, but it would be a strange decision to bring him up from the minors just to have him sit in the press box when the team already has seven blueliners on the roster. If Pickering does play, it will likely be at the expense of Matt Dumba or teenager Harrison Brunicke.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Sent down Saturday
Rotowire
Pickering was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
Pickering's appeared in 25 games for the Penguins this year, logging a goal, three points and a minus-5 rating. The rookie blueliner will likely focus on developing while seeing increased ice time in the AHL, though he could very well return to Pittsburgh later this season. Forward Bokondji Imama was recalled in a corresponding move.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Slides helper in Monday's win
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Pickering provided an assist and two PIM in Monday's 5-1 win over the Kings.
The helper was Pickering's first point in 10 outings since he returned from a concussion. The 20-year-old blueliner has mostly seen third-pairing minutes since his return, offering limited chances for him to make a large impact in any aspect. He has three points, 13 shots on net, 13 hits, 18 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over his first 24 NHL contests.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Activated from IR
Rotowire
Pickering was activated from injured reserve Friday.
While he's officially a game-time decision for Friday's game versus the Panthers, this move clears the way for Pickering to return from a four-game absence. If he suits up, he'll likely be eased back in with bottom-four minutes. He has two points, 12 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 14 NHL appearances this season.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Remains out Tuesday
Rotowire
Pickering (concussion) will remain sidelined for Tuesday's game against the Red Wings despite fully participating in the Penguins' morning skate, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Pickering has been sidelined due to a concussion for the past week and a half, but his full participation in Tuesday's practice suggests that he's trending in the right direction. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to action, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him cleared for game action in early January.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Lands on IR
Rotowire
Pickering (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Monday.
Pittsburgh brought up Nate Clurman from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a corresponding move. Pickering will miss at least the next two games, starting with Monday's matchup versus Philadelphia, after being injured in Saturday's 3-0 loss to New Jersey.
Pickering won't return to Saturday's tilt against New Jersey because of an upper-body injury.
Pickering had one block in 10:53 of ice time before he left the game. He has a goal and two points in 14 appearances in 2024-25. If Pickering can't play Monday versus Philadelphia, Ryan Graves will probably draw back into the lineup.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Nets first NHL goal
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Pickering scored a goal Tuesday in a 5-4 overtime win over Florida.
It was his first NHL goal in his sixth game. Pickering fired a wrist shot from the point past a screen from Michael Bunting. At 20 years and 311 days, he becomes the 11th youngest defenseman in Penguins history to score a goal. Pickering was picked 21st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft and is looking like a natural on the Pens blue line.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Unavailable Friday
Rotowire
Pickering (illness) will miss Friday's tilt against Boston.
Pickering has an assist, one hit and two blocks in four outings in 2024-25. This will be Pittsburgh's second straight game without him in the lineup. When available, Pickering might serve on the third pairing.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Questionable Friday
Rotowire
Pickering (illness) missed practice Thursday and is considered questionable ahead of Friday's tilt versus Boston, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Pickering was unable to play Wednesday against the Canucks with his illness. Coach Mike Sullivan stated that Pickering is still being evaluated and may not travel with the Penguins to Boston on Friday. Pickering has one assist in four games this season. If he is unable to go, look for Jack St. Ivany to remain in the lineup.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Out due to illness
Rotowire
Pickering (illness) won't play Wednesday versus the Canucks.
Pickering has been gaining a foothold in the lineup, playing in four straight games. The 20-year-old will sit out at least one game, and it's unclear if he'll be ready to return versus the Bruins on Friday.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Earns helper in debut
Rotowire
Pickering logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks.
While it was a fairly tame first assignment, Pickering was able to handle third-pairing duties in the absence of Kris Letang (illness). It didn't take long for Pickering to earn his first point, as he helped out on a Jesse Puljujarvi tally in the first period. Pickering won't solve all of the Penguins' defensive problems, but he has a chance to make a push to stick around after failing to make the team out of camp. The 20-year-old blueliner is unlikely to be a future fantasy stud, but he's a heady player who should be a benefit in his own zone now and in future seasons for Pittsburgh.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Called up from minors
Rotowire
Pickering was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday.
Pickering's promotion could be an indication there is an injury or illness to one of the Pens' blueliners, though it might also be an attempt to see if anything can stem the flow of opposition goals considering Pittsburgh is giving up 3.83 per game (second-worst in the league). If the 6-foot-4 Pickering does get into Friday's matchup with Columbus, it figures to be in a third-pairing role -- likely at the expense of Ryan Shea.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Assigned to WHL team
Rotowire
Pickering (undisclosed) was assigned to the WHL's Swift Current Broncos on Monday.
Pickering has evidently put the undisclosed injury he was dealing with at the start of training camp behind him. The 2022 first-round pick will likely spend the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign in the WHL.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Has undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Pickering is battling an undisclosed injury, according to Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com.
The hope is Pickering will be available for the start of Pittsburgh's training camp, which begins Sept. 21. The 19-year-old defenseman had nine goals and 45 points in 61 WHL games last season.
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Penguins' Owen Pickering: Joining Baby Pens
Rotowire
Pickering was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday, Dave Molinari of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports.
Pickering put up nine goals and 36 points in 61 games for the Swift Current Broncos this season and will now get his first taste of professional hockey. Selected by the Pens in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old blueliner could at least challenge for a spot on the 23-man roster next season, especially if Brian Dumoulin is allowed to walk in free agency.
Pickering sustained an upper-body injury that will limit him during the Penguins' rookie camp, Pens Inside Scoop reports Thursday.
Pickering was selected by the Penguins with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and should be considered a dark-horse candidate to secure a spot on the 23-man roster for Opening Night. If his upper-body injury lingers into the start of training camp, it will certainly hurt his chances.
