STOCKHOLM — The Pittsburgh Penguins do not lack options with their development plan for 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke, even if they’re not sharing it.

The situation is far more complex than merely waiting to see if Brunicke plays his 10th NHL game.

“We’re continuing to work with him. You know, there is a plan that we have. It’s a detailed plan for him and things that we really believe are going to be positive for his development right now,” said coach Dan Muse on Saturday. “And so we’re executing.”

While playing that 10th game would indeed start Brunicke’s entry-level contract, it’s not the end of the story. Contrary to the beliefs of many, the 10th game is not the golden ticket to remain in the NHL for the rest of the season. The Penguins could still return Brunicke to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL up until their 40th game of the season, which will arrive on Jan. 3 against the Detroit Red Wings.

In the meantime, Brunicke spoke with Pittsburgh Hockey Now and shed some light on what Muse called the team’s “detailed plan” for Brunicke’s development.

“(The work is) just like some skills, you know, whether it’s boxouts, we’ve been doing things like battle drills in the corner, and fun stuff like walking the blue line and working on those sorts of skills like that,” Brunicke said. “(Overall), just kind of the fundamentals and stuff. It’s been good.”

In other words, the team is working on many of the next-level fundamentals and nuanced techniques that might be above juniors, but are essential for pro hockey.

In this process of getting Brunicke up to speed where his performances match his talent, there are side roads and detours with plenty of offramps or onramps as Brunicke’s progression merits, good or bad. It would appear that nothing is quite assured, but rather a step-by-step process with constant evaluation.

With that understanding, there are ways the Penguins can keep Brunicke on the ice and in game action, even if he doesn’t return to NHL game action soon.

In addition to hard work in practice, the organization could exploit a special agreement between the NHL and CHL that provides an exemption for 19-year-olds ineligible to play in the AHL. If, or when, the Penguins scratch Brunicke for five consecutive games, he becomes eligible for a one-time, 14-day conditioning assignment in the AHL.

There is also the upcoming World Junior Championships at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. If made available, Brunicke would almost assuredly be invited by Team Canada for the tournament, which runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, and includes a couple of warm-up games against OHL teams beginning on Dec. 17.

The Penguins could use the 14-day AHL conditioning assignment option before the World Juniors, then determine his season during the tournament. The increased competition of international play would seem to be a benefit to Brunicke and a potential proving ground for the work they’re doing.

The young defenseman struck an even-keeled tone in our conversation. It hasn’t been easy. The mistakes, the scratches, but there have also been high points.

“I think it’s maybe a little bit (tough to keep my confidence). But I’ve been doing a good job of just taking it day by day,” Brunicke told us. “Like, every day I’m here, it’s great. And learning from these guys and getting to share the ice with them, it’s good.”

An alternative path should the Penguins decide to keep Brunicke, he could conceivably play several games between now and the World Juniors, then return to the team in January, participate in the 14-day conditioning assignment in later January, then resume fundamentals work during the lengthy February Olympic break, which–get this–would be almost equal to the length of the WHL schedule.

The Kamloops schedule ends on March 20 if they don’t make the playoffs. Kamloops is currently 8-7-4. And Brunicke could be assigned to the AHL following the WHL season’s conclusion.

Based on the effort the Penguins are putting into Brunicke, and the effort that they are exerting to avoid specifics, it points to the fact that Brunicke could stay for the season, if he progresses, but he could be returned to Kamloops if he doesn’t.

Such an assignment back to the WHL might not do much to further his skills, but it would protect him from losing his confidence and keep him on the ice in competitive situations.

It’s up to the player.

In the meantime, the Canadian hockey world that controls the soul of the game is arguing amongst itself to either protect the CHL by not allowing 19-year-olds to turn pro, or to give NHL general managers more control of 19-year-old players, and letting one or more per organization play in the AHL as deemed appropriate.

While Brunicke is caught in the middle of that fight, he knows his role.

“I’ve talked to (the organization) and stuff like that,” said Brunicke. “They obviously have a plan for me, and my job is to show up and work and not get away from that. So I think I’m doing that well right now, so I keep improving.”

Subscribers can also hear our full conversation with Brunicke inside the Penguins’ locker room at Novet Arena in Stockholm below.

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