DETROIT - Tommy Galvas was the name that kept jumping off the ice Sunday for the Penguins’ prospects, even in a game where Pittsburgh’s group had to work a lot harder than it did a day earlier.
After a shootout win over a depleted Columbus Blue Jackets squad on Saturday, the Penguins faced a more experienced Detroit Red Wings group at the Belfour Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena. Detroit didn’t bring more than one first-round pick, but it did dress a half dozen players who were 21 or older, along with several on tryout deals. The early mistakes came fast, especially in the first period, and Pittsburgh’s prospects had to settle in before the game tilted their way by the end of the second.
Galvas was the player who changed the feel of it.
The 20-year-old second-round pick flashed speed, puck sense and quick hands throughout the afternoon, and he scored the goal that tied the game 2-2 with an end-to-end rush around a few would-be defenders. He was active on the rush all game and repeatedly found ways to see and attack openings. For stretches, he looked electric.
“Yeah, he looks sick. I mean, obviously you’ve seen that shootout goal (Saturday), which was gross.
Like I don’t even know,” said 2026 third-round pick Pierce Mbuyi. “And then he’s just so so calm with the puck.
I feel like every time he gets it, he’ll make a play. And he’s always open.
It seems, he’s always just making the right play. So he’s awesome to watch.”
Galvas also made a big play on the penalty kill in the third period, stripping the puck near the top of the zone, carrying it into the offensive end one-on-one and circling behind the net before sending it back to Tyler Duke at the red line.
But the game also showed why there’s still work ahead. Early on, 24-year-old Red Wings free agent Theo Rochette spun Galvas around and took the puck at the top of the zone for a shorthanded breakaway. Later, Detroit tied the game 3-3 after Galvas ventured deep into the offensive zone, got knocked off the puck along the wall and couldn’t recover to his man near the net, leaving the Penguins exposed in their own crease area.
His late rush with a one-goal lead and six minutes left summed him up well: he blew past a couple of defenders on the backhand and got deep, but then ended up outnumbered in the corner. It was a gorgeous sequence until the moment it needed a simpler finish.
With the game in hand, the safer play was to move the puck and retreat. Instead, he kept pressing.
No damage done, but it was a reminder of the next step he still has to learn.
At 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, Galvas is going to have to answer size questions, but the skill is obvious. There had been talk after the draft that he might return home to Czechia this season, though the Penguins could be tempted to speed things up and push him toward Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Will Horcoff, the 2025 first-round pick taken 24th overall, made the trip from the University of Michigan to support the group.
Not everyone in Pittsburgh’s lineup had the same kind of impact. The Ruck brothers ran into a tough afternoon, with the puck rarely finding them in dangerous areas.
Liam Ruck’s shots were blocked by shin pads, while Markus Ruck’s best moment came on a shovel pass at center ice that sent Carter Sanderson in for a goal. Otherwise, the line spent most of the game fighting for room and coming up short.
Jake Livanavage, a 22-year-old with three years of NCAA experience at North Dakota and one NHL game, also left scouts wanting more. He was present enough to notice, but not enough to stand out.
Peyton Kettles, the Penguins’ 2025 second-rounder, is still shaking off a long layoff after missing most of last season with injury before returning for the Memorial Cup. The big defenseman showed some rust and will need to clean up his skating, since being a step slow to the puck puts more pressure on his work in the defensive zone. That said, there’s no reason to draw a firm conclusion yet.
Even with several of the marquee names quiet, the Penguins’ prospects were solid once they settled in. By the end, the game belonged to them.
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Tomas Galvas Is Giving Penguins Fans A Real Reason To Wonder
Tomas Galvas made himself hard to ignore at the 2026 Prospects Tournament, where the defenseman stood out in Pittsburghs 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He chipped in a goal and backed it up with strong all-around play, giving the Penguins another young name worth tracking as the tournament continued. Brayden Edwards scored twice, including the game-winner, and Carter Sanderson also found the net as Pittsburgh moved to 2-0.
For the Penguins, the result was one more encouraging checkpoint in a weekend built around evaluation, but Galvas may have done even more than help the scoreboard. His game showed the kind of individual effort and skill that can stick with a scouting staff, especially in a setting where every shift is being watched closely. If Pittsburgh fans were looking for a reason to keep an eye on this group, Galvas gave them one. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospect Pushes For Attention At Just The Right Time
A little extra buzz followed the Penguins prospects after a 4-3 win at the Balfour Training Center, and defenseman Tommy Galvas made sure his name was part of the conversation. With Pittsburghs system under close watch and plenty of attention already landing on training camp and trade chatter around the league, performances like this carry a little more weight than a routine summer skate.
The timing matters, too, with rumors circulating that the Penguins could host next years Prospects Tournament. For a young player trying to separate himself, an event like that would offer another chance to show he belongs on a bigger stage, and Galvas standout showing put him in a useful position as the organization continues sorting through camp questions and evaluating where its next wave fits. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Are Counting On These Second-Chance Bets To Deliver
Last season gave the Penguins a few reminders that second-chance bets can pay off, and that is part of why the conversation around this years roster feels so tied to opportunity. General manager Kyle Dubas has leaned into giving ice to players who have flashed promise without fully establishing themselves, and the idea is simple enough: if the performance is already peeking through, the next step may come only with a real chance to run with it.
Nick Robertson, Declan Carlile and Ville Koivunen are among the names that fit that mold heading into the new season. Each arrives with a different path and different expectations, but the common thread is the same, the Penguins want development to turn into production, and there is enough recent evidence in each case to make the bet feel worthwhile. The only question now is which one of them can turn last years glimpse into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]