Penguins prospect Tristan Broz has 'matured a lot, grown a lot' as his professional career begins

Tristan Broz never dreamed of scoring overtime goals in his driveway.

After all, he’s from Minnesota, the land of a thousand lakes.

His aspirations unfolded on a more icebound surface.

“As a little kid, being on the pond all the time,” the Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect said, “that’s exactly the scenario you run through in your head.”

Broz ran through that scenario in real time this past spring.

Twice.

Skating for the University of Denver, Broz scored overtime goals in two NCAA tournament wins and helped guide the Pioneers to the 10th national championship in program history.

In the first round of the tournament, Broz’s score in the second overtime supplied Denver a 3-2 victory against Massachusetts.

Then in the semifinal round, Broz needed less than a single overtime to score in a 2-1 triumph against Boston University.

“To be blessed to have the puck on my stick in those moments and to score two big goals for our team — especially in those games where it’s win or go home — it felt good,” Broz said. “In both games, my main thought process was just — especially (against Boston University) — just two more days with these guys (teammates). I didn’t want it to end. That was the big feeling in our locker room. In my head, just two more days with these guys. To score the goal to get two more days with them felt really good. We enjoyed those two days and obviously won the last one. That’s what counts.”

That success added up to Broz deciding to turn professional when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins on April 20, seven days after winning the NCAA title.

After joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an American Hockey League amateur tryout contract, Broz made his professional debut April 24.

Skating as either the second- or third-line center, Broz appeared in each of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s postseason games (in a best-of-three opening-round loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms).

“It’s kind of tough coming into the playoffs, more the off-ice aspect just with a group that’s been together for so long,” Broz said. “You feel a little awkward and stuff. But the guys did a great job. I definitely learned the compete level night-in and night-out that it takes. Every guy is competing for a job, competing for a spot.”

At one time, it was uncertain if Broz was deserving of any kind of spot with the organization. After being a second-round draft pick (No. 58 overall) in 2021, Broz enrolled at the University of Minnesota. Any designs of glory as a homegrown kid starring for the vaunted Golden Gophers never materialized during a ho-hum freshman campaign of 2021-22 when he posted only 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 36 games and was an occasional healthy scratch.

After a single season with Minnesota, he opted to transfer to Denver. As a junior, he averaged nearly a point per game with 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 43 contests.

His growth since that rough start to his collegiate career has been considerable.

“I think I’ve come pretty far,” said Broz, 21. “Just looking back on where I was as an 18-year-old getting drafted here, I feel like I was pretty immature. Coming in now, I feel like I’ve just matured a lot, grown a lot. Put on (muscle) and just kind of grown into my body more. Come a really long way since then. I think I was a little kid back then.”

When the Penguins drafted the 6-foot Broz, he weighed in at a svelte 178 pounds. During his final season with Denver, he played at a beefier 190 pounds.

“I’ve had to force myself to eat a little more, starting probably around when I was in high school,” Broz said. “But it’s come a bit more naturally to me. The biggest thing has been in the weight room, just pushing myself, realizing how big of an aspect that is. Now, I’m starting to realize that I have put on that weight. It’s gaining more confidence in the corners and battles and protecting the puck. Now that I have it, being able to use it more and to get to the inside and use that to my advantage.”

Another advantage has been his perseverance.

“He’s been one of our most intriguing prospects to follow the last few years,” Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. “He’s been through some adversity and battled it. He’s been very resilient. Just his season last year, it’s amazing the way it went for him, some ups and downs and then he really took off in the second half and then the (NCAA Tournament). … He seems really dedicated to his training right now. … It’s great to see him and how he keeps maturing and growing as a player.

“He’s always had the skill set, but you can see the work ethic and attitude.”

Capable of playing left wing or center, Broz isn’t overly picky over which position Penguins management may want him to line up at.

He just wants to realize his dream of getting to the NHL.

“It’s good to have that versatility where I can play both,” Broz said. “I grew up playing center until probably the eighth grade. Then from eighth grade more or less through my junior year (of college), I was a left wing, aside from a few games when (someone was injured). Naturally, I’m more of a center, but I think I’ve learned really well to play left wing. Having that versatility where I don’t really care where I’m going to play — it’s more let’s go out and win — I think helps a lot. It definitely helps me as a player just being able to be more versatile and being able to be in more spots in the lineup.

“As of now, there’s no specific spot they want to see me play. It’s just try to develop, get better every day and see where things fall.”

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