In August 2013, Pitlick committed to play Division 1college ice hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Pitlick played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League for two years. After spending the 2014–15 season with the Black Hawks, he was traded to the Lumberjacks in exchange for a first and tenth round pick in the USHL Draft. During the 2015–16 season, while with the Lumberjacks, Pitlick set a new franchise record for most points in a season and was awarded USHL Player of the Year and USHL Forward of the Year. He was also named to the First Team All-USHL and given the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. At the end of the season, Pitlick announced he was leaving the USHL to join the Golden Gophers for the 2016–17 season.
Collegiate
In his freshman season with the Golden Gophers, Pitlick played in 36 games and recorded 32 points. He scored his first collegiate goal on October 7, 2016, in a 6–0 win over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. At the conclusion of the season, Pitlick was selected for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. In his sophomore season, Pitlick played in 38 games and recorded 31 points. He also recorded an eight-game point streak between October 27 and November 18. At the conclusion of the season, Pitlick was selected for the Academic All-Big Ten team. In his junior season, Pitlick played in 38 games and set a new career high in points with 45 points. He was named the Big Ten First Star of The Week after he recorded five points in a weekend series against the Michigan Wolverines. He ended the season as a Hobey Baker Award nominee and selected for the All-Big Ten First Team. On March 12, Pitlick was named to the AHCA First-Team All-American, becoming the 65th person to earn All-American honors in Minnesota history.
Professional
Pitlick signed a two-year entry level contract with the Nashville Predators on March 22, 2019, thus concluding his collegiate career. He made his NHL debut on March 25, against the Minnesota Wild.
His cousin Tyler Pitlick is also an NHL player; he currently plays with the Philadelphia Flyers. His younger brother, Rhett, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Rhett plays NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota; played high school hockey for Chaska High School. His mother Lisa is also a former athlete. She attended the University of Minnesota and competed on Team USA's gymnastics team.
