It's not uncommon for organizations to use the end of the AHL season as an opportunity to get some of their prospects whose junior seasons have ended some AHL games. It gives the development staff a chance to see how those prospects stand up against some pros, and it gives the prospect a valuable learning experience heading into next season.

That's what the Penguins did for Harrison Brunicke, arguably their top defense prospect, after his Kamloops Blazers failed to qualify for the WHL playoffs. He joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and played 10 games down the stretch of the regular season, often skating on the second pairing.

When Wilkes-Barre began its first-round playoff series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms here at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Wednesday, Brunicke remained in the lineup over some more experienced, older defenseman. When the games matter the most, Wilkes-Barre's staff saw Brunicke as one of the six defenseman who gives them the best chance to win.

"It's a huge boost of confidence," Brunicke told me of being rewarded like that. "I'm just looking to keep improving my role, whatever it is. Keep looking forward here."

The Phantoms took Game 1 with a 5-2 win. And in a largely pretty awful game from Wilkes-Barre's standpoint, Brunicke could be considered one of the few bright spots. He wasn't on the ice for any of those five goals against, but did set up Gabe Klassen's goal in the third period. His three shots were tied for the second-most on the team behind Tristan Broz's five. And he just wan't noticeable in the best way -- no real egregious mistakes or turnovers. He was just solid.

"I thought it was good," Brunicke said about his own game. "But I don't look at how I kind of played there, I'm worrying about the overall loss tonight. It's tough to start one-nothing down here in a three-game series."

Brunicke made the transition to the AHL game fairly easily, noting how different the game is than the junior level but saying that he "learned so much, right from the start." And some of the biggest learning lessons are about what he can't quite get away with at this level. He'd make little mistakes -- holding onto the puck too long, trying to do too much himself, or slick moves like banking a puck off the end boards in an attempted pass. He'd get picked off, turn the puck over, and it'd lead directly to a scoring chance (or even a goal) against.

"Lots of plays in junior, I thought I could take the puck a bit more," he explained. "Obviously, can't do that here. The game's way faster. Guys are in better spots. So, yeah, it's hard to do some things. But at the same time, I think guys sometimes don't read that you're going to make a move sometimes, and it's there. You've just got to find the right play."

Brunicke won't be back in Wilkes-Barre next season, that's for sure. The NHL-CHL transfer agreement keeps major junior players out of the AHL until they're 20 or have four seasons of junior experience, and Brunicke won't gain that AHL eligibility until the 2026-27 season. Next season, it's either the NHL or back to junior, though he could once again join Wilkes-Barre once his WHL season ends.

Brunicke, in his first NHL training camp last year, managed to be one of the last cuts. He more than exceeded expectations and looked like a real threat to take a spot on the right side of the Penguins' blue line, but he ultimately went back to junior.

Now, Brunicke will be coming into training camp next season another year older, another year stronger, and now with some professional games on his resume. He's going to look to keep showing that he's capable of playing professional hockey, keep taking steps this postseason, and hopefully put himself in a position to give management some difficult decisions in training camp.

"It's finding that simplicity in my game," Brunicke said of what he needs to do to make that happen. "I'm just looking to overall round out my game. But when the chances are there, take them and join the rush and play my game."