Pickering is a defense-first blueliner with an intriguing upside. He shows the potential to become a reliable defender, using his size and defensive awareness to disrupt plays and limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. Now stepping into his second professional season with the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins, he has a prime opportunity to continue building on his development and earn a permanent spot on the blue line.

At 6-5, 201-pounds, Pickering leverages his massive frame and sharp instinct to shut down plays and keep opponents off the scoresheets. While his size gives him a distinct edge, taking his game to the next level will require a bit more quickness, sharper decision-making on transitions, and greater composure under heavy pressure. That said, the foundation is already there. His mobility, deception and retrieval abilities – all point to a player with the tools to develop into a solid, two-way defenseman.

Selected 21st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Pickering projects as a potential third-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. If he continues to refine his skating and stay poised under pressure, his combination of size and defensive tools could turn him develop into a dependable heavy-minute player trusted in crucial game situations.

Pickering will be an NHLer, at the bare minimum. The 2022 first-rounder split time between the NHL and AHL this year and held his own in both leagues. After scoring only one point in his first 12 AHL games, the Penguins called up Pickering, where he spent the next 25 games in the NHL. While he scored only three points, there were many flashes of his skill in his sheltered minutes. His skating has improved significantly, and he has grown into his body. Even at 200lbs, Pickering could still add on another 15 to 20lbs of muscle to his frame and not have it impact him negatively as it would for other shorter players. What is most impressive about Pickering’s season was that after his 25-game stint in the NHL, he went back to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and produced 12 of his 13 points in the final 35 games. He also finished the season leading the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in plus/minus, a sign of his mature play without the puck.

It would not be shocking if the Penguins kept him in the AHL next year so he can continue to grow into his frame and unlock his offense at the professional level. It should be noted that the NHL is also a development league in certain regards, and a steeper curve could be what the Penguins want to test Pickering with. All in all, Pickering is the most exciting defensive prospect in the Penguins’ system and could prove to be a long-term top-four defenseman who pitches in on the powerplay.