Defenseman Dane Birks is currently the only Penguins draft pick playing for the Nailers under an NHL contract.

The 23-year-old native of Merritt, British Columbia was the Penguins’ sixth-round pick in 2013. The Penguins signed Birks to a two-year entry level contract in March 2018, following the conclusion of Birks’ senior season at Michigan Tech.

Birks attended Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s training camp this fall and was named to the team’s season-opening roster. With a crowded blue line in Wilkes-Barre, Birks did not play in the season opener and was reassigned to Wheeling, where he has been since. For Birks, it isn’t discouraging to be playing his first professional season in Wheeling. His goal is the same wherever he is.

“You just want to make a name for yourself, being your first year,” Birks told me this week. “You just want to do whatever (coaches) tell you, and be an elite prospect for them no matter where you are — whether it’s in Wilkes-Barre or Wheeling. It doesn’t matter where you are, you’re still going to play the same and try to do what they tell you to do.”

Like most college prospects making their professional debuts, there has been an adjustment period for Birks. The games are more frequent, the players are more skilled, and the game is more controlled and technical. Birks has grown more comfortable throughout the season, and now plays on the Nailers’ top defensive pairing.

Birks, a 6-feet-2, 190-pound right-handed shot, is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman who brings a physical edge to the lineup. He’ll use his size, be it with a hit or just outmuscling a guy to force him offside:

38 games into the season, Birks has nine assists, and is still searching for his first professional goal.

In college, the points came more easily. Birks set career highs his senior year with five goals and 13 assists in 44 games.

As a pro, Birks has taken on more of a shutdown role, and has been focusing on being reliable defensively and being strong on the penalty kill. Still, coach Mike Bavis wants Birks to get more pucks to the net, and hopefully regain some of the offensive production he had in college.

As the Nailers’ only skater on an NHL contract, Birks doesn’t feel any added pressure. The organization doesn’t treat its players any differently based on their contract status. Development coaches like Ty Hennes are sent down to Wheeling to work with all players equally, and Birks knows he has to work just as hard as everyone else.

“I’m just another person, just another teammate, just another guy that’s trying to pursue their dreams,” Birks said. “I don’t put myself higher than anybody or lower, you just fit in.”

Birks gets some pointers from another coach, too — his father, Bill. Bill had a brief professional career with the Johnstown Chiefs when the Chiefs were part of the ECHL, and went on to coach in the junior British Columbia Hockey League for several seasons. Birks is able to benefit from his father’s experience.

“We talk after every game, he tries to watch most of the games when he’s not coaching,” said Birks. “He’s always there telling me what I did wrong or what I can do better, which is always helpful. The more eyes the better, right?”

With 10 defensemen currently on Wilkes-Barre’s roster, Birks will need to remain in Wheeling to develop for a little while longer before he’ll be able to see regular playing time in the AHL. He’ll continue to take advantage of those big minutes in Wheeling and grow his game before taking that next step.