The Penguins will try to snap their November slump by calling up one of their top prospects for his NHL debut.
Tristan Broz, 2021 second-round pick turned top-line center in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was called up by the Pens ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Broz, who started
out his college career with Minnesota before transferring to Denver, helped the Pioneers win the 2024 national championship with an overtime game-winner to help his team advance past the Frozen Four.
He was set to debut for the Penguins last season before a diagnosis of mononucleosis derailed that plan,
Broz performed well this preseason but couldn’t beat out 2025 first-round pick Ben Kindel for a spot on the season-opening roster.
While starting the season in the AHL he has recorded 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his first 18 games of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
“Really strong reports. I think you go back, he had a strong training camp, too… this is warranted,” Dan Muse told reporters Monday about Broz’s time in the AHL this season. “Training camp matters. It matters a lot. He made a good impression. He earned that during training camp.
“So now, he goes in there, and he goes to Wilkes, and he follows it up. He’s playing well on both sides of the puck… He’s a guy who, he’s making plays, he’s impacting the game offensively. For us, our biggest thing is, we want him to jump in and continue to build on what he’s doing.”
Muse added that he’s regularly in contact with WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald, and that general manager Kyle Dubas sends him clips of top prospects like Broz to keep him up to date with what’s going on in the AHL.
“When guys come here, I think it allows for us to be able to say, ‘Play your game. Like, ‘These are the things you’ve been doing well, these are the things we want to focus in on as opportunities present themselves here,’” Muse said.
It’s been four years since Broz was drafted, and he turned 23 back in October, so it’s time for the Penguins to finally get a look at one of their top prospects.
Broz skated in Monday’s practice on the Penguins’ third line between Sam Poulin and Tommy Novak, but it’s not clear if that’s where he’ll be on Wednesday.
Bryan Rust missed Monday’s practice due to illness, so Ben Kindel moved up to play on Sidney Crosby’s wing on the top line.
Where Broz ends up skating if Rust is able to return for Tuesday’s practice will be something to keep an eye out ahead of Wednesday night’s 7 p.m. ET puck drop against the Sabres.
Finding a quick fit for Broz will be key to fixing the Penguins’ need for depth scoring while a long list of injured players including Rickard Rakell, Rutger McGroarty, Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari remain on the sidelines.
Dating back to the beginning of the Global Series in Sweden, the Penguins scored have six non-empty net goals in their last four games. Just one of those (Parker Wotherspoon’s opening goal against the Preds during the second game in Sweden) was scored by someone not named Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
The Pens will hope Broz, like Kindel and Harrison Brunicke, is able to adjust quickly to the NHL level and help his team find the depth they need to bounce back from a 2-4-3 November record.
