Development camp: McCoy battling for contract with Penguins

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Each year the Penguins round out their development camp roster with a number of undrafted free agent invites hoping to sign entry-level contracts with the team.

"It's a great opportunity just to see different guys, to see college free agents, to see junior free agents," assistant general manager Jason Spezza said of the camp. "I think it's a great opportunity to give them experience at an NHL camp."

One of the more intriguing options among this year's list of invitees was defenseman Donovan McCoy from the OHL's Sudbury Wolves.

The Penguins' development camp earlier this month was the second such camp for McCoy after attending the Flames' camp last summer. But being at the Penguins' camp felt a little special for McCoy, who grew up a fan.

"Pittsburgh is a team that was me and my brother's favorite teams growing up," McCoy told me with a big grin on his face. "So just being able to be here and see all behind the scenes and see all the coaches and all the staff and even some of the players come through here and just getting to experience what they experienced at one point, it's just been really cool. I've really taken in a lot in all the practices and everything."

JOE ZAK / PENGUINS

Donovan McCoy in the Penguins' development camp earlier this month in Cranberry, Pa.

McCoy would fill an area of need for the Penguins: He's a right-handed defenseman. Entering this summer, the Penguins had exactly zero right-handed defense prospects, not counting Jack St. Ivany as a "prospect" any longer. They did a lot of good in adding to that area of the pool in this summer's draft, selecting four right-handed defensemen in Harrison Brunicke, Chase Pietila, Joona Vaisanen and Finn Harding. But all four will be returning to their junior or college teams for at least another year and aren't ready to crack the AHL roster. But McCoy who turns 20 years old in October, is old enough to be eligible to play in the AHL in the NHL-CHL transfer agreement. He does have the option of returning to the OHL for one final overage season, but he could also be a prospect a team adds to their minor-league system now. 

McCoy, who is listed at 6 foot 1 and 198 pounds, described his game to me as an "all-around guy, but really more of a defensive shutdown guy." He tries to model his game after those of the Panthers's Gustav Forsling and the Rangers' Jacob Trouba for their "easygoing steadiness," strong defensive play and ability to be relied upon in different situations while putting up the occasional points. He added that he tries to "be physical and have a little but of an edge," but added that the edge is "not quite at the level" of Trouba's.

"Really good scanning is probably my best attribute," McCoy said. "I'm able to join the rush, but be really strong defensively. I've kind of been relied upon the last couple years with my team in the OHL as a shutdown guy. So I think I take pride in that defending, but I can really push the offense when needed as well."

McCoy set career highs offensively last season. He saw pretty modest production in 2022-23, putting up two goals and 11 assists in 65 games with the Peterborough Petes. He played the first 37 games of this past season with the Petes, serving a captain and scoring six goals and 15 assists. He was traded to Sudbury ahead of the OHL trade deadline and finished the year with three goal and 14 assists in 30 games.

"It was definitely something that I focused on," McCoy said of that increased production. "I think going into the season I had to push myself. In Peterborough, we had a younger team, so I kind of was able to take the reins a bit. Then in Sudbury, it was the same thing, they kind of gave me the full green light to go. So I just put it all together -- really strong defensively, and I think when I really bear down in the defensive zone, my offense gets to come. So I think that was a bright side of last season, and I'm definitely confident going into next year to do the same."

I asked McCoy what other parts of his game he's looking to improve upon the most moving forward.

"Probably my footwork and my decision-making in the D zone and offensive zone as well," he said. "With footwork, just being more relied upon in tight areas, being able to get myself in front of offensive players, between the net, and really solidify my defensive game and just know that any situation in the D zone around the ice, I'm able to get my feet around them and use my skating, just keep working on that. Definitely my skating, footwork and just my hockey sense in all areas."

JOE ZAK / PENGUINS

Donovan McCoy in the Penguins' development camp earlier this month in Cranberry, Pa.

Where exactly McCoy will be working on those things ... it's not quite clear. He's hoping to turn pro next season. But if not, he's happy to go back to Sudbury and take one more year in junior trying to prove himself and earn a deal.

"That's the main goal, trying to earn a contract," he said. "But Sudbury is a great place, and I'm looking forward to it if I end up going back. Great spot. Great players, coaches. I love the city, so it's definitely a great place to play."

If the Penguins are going to sign undrafted free agents over the summer, it'd more than likely be in September. McCoy is one of the players from development camp who earned an invite back in September for a short rookie camp and then a trip to Buffalo, N.Y. for a three-game Prospects Challenge tournament from Sept. 13-16. Contracts could be earned coming out of Buffalo.

McCoy is hoping to ink a deal. But he's not letting the pressure of a potential NHL contract get to him while he puts in the work.

"I'm just having a positive mindset, just going into it and having fun," he said. "Whatever happens at the end, happens. Earning a contract is one thing you want, so I'm going to come here and try to do that. But Sudbury is a great place, so if I go back, then it's no big deal. I'm looking forward to either way. It'll be fun."