Peyton Kettles, Pittsburgh Penguins DETROIT — The Pittsburgh Penguins may not have an overflowing training camp Thursday, as they are already making cuts and reassigning prospects back to junior hockey after winning two of three games at the Prospects Tournament in Detroit. Seven prospects won’t be in camp Thursday as the team returned 2026 third-rounder Pierce Mbuyi to the Owen Sound Attack (OHL), 2025 fourth-rounder Travis Hayes and 2025 fifth-rounder Jordan Charron to the Soo Greyhounds (OHL), undrafted Benett Kelly to the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), and undrafted goalies Carter Casey to the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) and Xavier Wendt to the Tri-City Americans (WHL).
However, the biggest non-invite to camp was 2025 second-rounder Peyton Kettles, who was returned to the Kelowna Rockets (WHL). The team used the 39th overall pick on Kettles, who is a big, stay-at-home defenseman.
However, injuries derailed his development last season, and he played only five games. Interestingly, ’26 Penguins first-round pick Liam Ruck wasn’t yet sure Tuesday afternoon whether he was invited to camp.
He told three Pittsburgh outlets, including PHN, that he had not yet been informed whether he would be going to camp or back to Medicine Hat.
