Prospect Info: 2023 14th Overall - Brayden Yager

[Ryder71]

When Benson went the chance to steal a player this draft went with him. Damn! that would have been tremendous value at 14. Yager seems meh in comparison. I would have preferred Perreault or ASP. And I'm not wanting to necessarily add a D men.

 

[PensandCaps]

Last goal shows really good hockey sense. This guy seems NHL ready at Defense, shooting, skating, and smarts.

Hopefully he can develop a better passing game

Jesse was asked and said he’s three years away from the NHL at minimum

He's definitely gotta refine some things, but 1-2 years seems reasonable.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

Reminds me of Sprong from the highlights

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

He DOES seem a little all over the board. Both in ranking and opinions... both in general and certain aspects of his game. I get what people mean by the "Esposito vibes" but I think the big difference here is going to be work ethic and an already robust two way game... which by all accounts he has both of.

And Esposito was damaged goods from a catastrophic knee injury wasn't he?

 

[Ryder71]

Jesse was asked and said he’s three years away from the NHL at minimum

Three years away is fine. I just wonder how good he'll be when and if he does play.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Braden Yager trains with Shane Endicott lmfao

Yager named Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year

Stellar season for Warriors standout lands highest honour among first-year players from across major junior hockey

www.moosejawtoday.com

Well shit forget everything I just said and flush this guy down the toilet.

I wonder if he's already wearing puka shell necklaces?

 

[Andy99]

U

Three years away is fine. I just wonder how good he'll be when and if he does play.

we’ll find out when he’s traded to make room for the new Zucker extension…

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Big fan of this pick. Have a big summer, kid. There is a roster spot waiting for you.

 

[Josey Wales]

ESPN has been a Clusterf*** for 2 Decades Not interviewing the Kid on his & his family's biggest day so far

 

[The Old Master]

He DOES seem a little all over the board. Both in ranking and opinions... both in general and certain aspects of his game. I get what people mean by the "Esposito vibes" but I think the big difference here is going to be work ethic and an already robust two way game... which by all accounts he has both of.

i think the way he worked on his passing should tell you all you need to know about his work ethic. imo

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

And Esposito was damaged goods from a catastrophic knee injury wasn't he?

Was that before he was drafted? I couldn't remember. I thought that was post draft. The Penguins never even got him officially in their system before he was traded.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Looks a little like Brayden Point in these highlights.
Good pick.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Years away was to be expected of anybody, imo, pretty much a nonfactor.

Was that before he was drafted? I couldn't remember. I thought that was post draft. The Penguins never even got him officially in their system before he was traded.

Maybe I'm misremembering, I thought he was projected to be #1 overall then his knee got f***ed up real bad so he dropped like a rock.

-edit- Yeah, no, you were right. Apparently he f***ed up his knee in 2009.

 

[OnMyOwn]

None of us have any clue about this shit, but we all love pretending that we do based on some articles or youtube clips. He's Penguin property now, so hope for the best. Not the guy I would've picked, but anybody overly upset about this is probably just looking for anything to be pissed about and likely would've hated Perreault, ASP, Wood, Moore or whoever else. /shrug

See ya in like 5 years, Yager. Hope you don't turn out to be trash, but at 14, statistically, you will.

I highly doubt anyone here that’s pissed off has watched any of these kids play. Like you said, YouTube and some random internet scouting reports is all we go off of.

Just wait and see how he does. I’m excited about his shooting and skating ability. Just keep your fingers crossed.

 

[Gurglesons]

Shut the f*** up Kyle.

 

[Factorial]

I wish I got real analysis on the pick instead of some awkward kid throwing out trite bull crap.

When did that crew give real analysis?

I was more annoyed that I couldn't see who was in the Pens entourage on stage which we barely were able to see.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I highly doubt anyone here that’s pissed off has watched any of these kids play. Like you said, YouTube and some random internet scouting reports is all we go off of.

Just wait and see how he does. I’m excited about his shooting and skating ability. Just keep your fingers crossed.

I'll take boom or bust at 14 all day. Enough of the safe bet bullshit.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I love how “experts” pretend they know how prospects will actually turn out.

 

[Peat]

He's more talented than both of them imo

I'm not sure I'm reading a ton of talent in this guy other than his shot. It doesn't sound like he has outstanding hands or vision.

And when I compre him to Poulin or Pickering, the physical talent levels are just different in the wrong direction. If Poulin or Pickering pan out, they're rare players.

I guess if Yager pans out and his shot is everything they say, then he is even rarer. But the big shot is the one attribute I'm most take it or leave it about.

This could look very stupid very quickly if he pulls his game together quickly but... well, we'll see. And yeah, both of those guys were projects too.

 

[PensandCaps]

Shut the f*** up Kyle.

Why, what's wrong with what he said.

 

[Ryder71]

U

we’ll find out when he’s traded to make room for the new Zucker extension…

What caught my eye however was in his highlights: has a very nice release (kessel like) and seems good in open ice, causes turnovers and had a great showing in the playoffs. 16 points in 10 games.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

BTW heres your 14th overall picks going back to 1990

1990 – Brad May (LW, Buffalo Sabres)
1991 – Pat Peake (C, Washington Capitals)
1992 – Sergei Gonchar (D, Washington Capitals)
1993 – Adam Deadmarsh (RW, Quebec Nordiques)
1994 – Ethan Moreau (LW, Chicago Blackhawks)
1995 – Jay McKee (D, Buffalo Sabres)
1996 – Marty Reasoner (C, St. Louis Blues)
1997 – Michael Riesen (RW, Edmonton Oilers)
1998 – Patrick DesRochers (G, Phoenix Coyotes)
1999 – Jeff Jillson (D, San Jose Sharks)
2000 – Vaclab Nedorost (C, Colorado Avalanche)
2001 – Chuck Kobasew (RW, Calgary Flames)
2002 – Chris Higgins (LW, Montreal Canadiens)
2003 – Brent Seabrook (D, Chicago Blackhawks)
2004 – Devan Dubnyk (G, Edmonton Oilers)
2005 – Saha Pokulok (D, Washington Capitals)
2006 – Michael Grabner (RW, Vancouver Canucks)
2007 – Kevin Shattenkirk (D, Colorado Avalanche)
2008 – Zach Boychuk (C, Carolina Hurricanes)
2009 – Dmitri Kulikov (D, Florida Panthers)
2010 - Jayden Schwartz
2011- Jamie Oleksiak
2012 Zegmus Girgensons
2013. Alexander Wennberg
2014. Julius Honka
2015 Jake DeBrusk
2016 Charlie McAvoy
2017 Callan Foote
2018 Joel Farabee
2019 Cam York
2020 Dylan Holloway
2021 Isak Rosen
2022 Rutger McGroaty

 

[Peat]

Shut the f*** up Kyle.

*sighs* At this point your anger is making me so happy. Clearly I'm drunk on tiredness.

 

[PensandCaps]

I'm not sure I'm reading a ton of talent in this guy other than his shot. It doesn't sound like he has outstanding hands or vision.

And when I compre him to Poulin or Pickering, the physical talent levels are just different in the wrong direction. If Poulin or Pickering pan out, they're rare players.

I guess if Yager pans out and his shot is everything they say, then he is even rarer. But the big shot is the one attribute I'm most take it or leave it about.

This could look very stupid very quickly if he pulls his game together quickly but... well, we'll see. And yeah, both of those guys were projects too.

A big shot and being able to skate and play defense is very rare though.

Sprong didn't have the defense or the hockey sense.

 

[chethejet]

Pens have zip at center especially a RH center. He fills a need and has the speed and shot. He is 5-11 and will add size for then ext 3 years. He will be part of the rebuild after the Pens core is gone.