The Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned defenseman Owen Pickering, their first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in last year’s draft, to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Pickering’s junior team, the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Swift Current Broncos, just completed its season on Saturday and did not qualify for the postseason.

Serving as the Broncos’ captain, Pickering, 19, appeared in 61 WHL games this season and led the team’s defensemen with 45 points (nine goals, 36 assists).

A left-handed shot, Pickering (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) was selected as a Central Division first-team All-Star this season.

Pickering signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins this past July, but it will not begin until he plays his first NHL game or is no longer eligible to play at the junior level.

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