Prospect Info: '24-'25 Prospects Thread: Generation Z

[Malkinstheman]

Nice to see Ilyin producing again. Had something like 7 points in the first 10 games and then went scoreless in 7 or 8 games

 

[SEALBound]

Nice to see Ilyin producing again. Had something like 7 points in the first games and then went scoreless in 7 or 8 games

Another 0.5 PPG + in the KHL as a 19yo would be nice to see.

 

[Jacob]

His stats, at worst, suggest he’s AHL-ready.

 

[Jacob]

Another goal for Brunicke but it wasn't anything special so I won't link it. I'm thinking Brunicke stays in Kamloops as he's got another year of eligibility left and they're actually showing some improvement. Regina (and Moose Jaw) are dead last and Howe is a 2005 birthdate so this will be his final season so I could see him being dealt. Maybe him and Yager go to the same team.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

Anybody who watches Wbs, is McG just snake bitten or does he look completely invisible? Because his stat line is kinda garbage.

 

[The Old Master]

Another goal for Brunicke but it wasn't anything special so I won't link it. I'm thinking Brunicke stays in Kamloops as he's got another year of eligibility left and they're actually showing some improvement. Regina (and Moose Jaw) are dead last and Howe is a 2005 birthdate so this will be his final season so I could see him being dealt. Maybe him and Yager go to the same team.

i like brunicke but i don't want him anywhere near sully.

 

[Ryder71]

Anybody who watches Wbs, is McG just snake bitten or does he look completely invisible? Because his stat line is kinda garbage.

one point in eight games? That's a disgrace for what he showed here! He has to be sulking! He needs to ACCEPT he's not ready yet. He needs to grow up, do what he's told and contribute! If he's our NO 1 prospect this doesn't bode well!

 

[Jacob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1855712186166841488

First of the season, still at 1 PPG.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Obviously its way too early to judge but the returns from the 2024 draft class are looking really good. Harding, Brunicke and Pietila are having big production jumps while Swanson is having a really nice start to his college career. Hopefully Howe can get traded to a contender at some point and start putting up points.

 

[Pancakes]

Anybody who watches Wbs, is McG just snake bitten or does he look completely invisible? Because his stat line is kinda garbage.

I don't watch WBS but he's a 20 year old kid in a league full of men. The AHL is still a very good league. I think some patience is required here.

Bryan Rust for example played four full years of college hockey. Rutger had he chosen to do so could have played two more years of college hockey.

It'll take time.

 

[wej20]

I don't watch WBS but he's a 20 year old kid in a league full of men. The AHL is still a very good league. I think some patience is required here.

Bryan Rust for example played four full years of college hockey. Rutger had he chosen to do so could have played two more years of college hockey.

It'll take time.

And getting sent down from the NHL probably wasn't the biggest confidence boost either.

 

[Malkinstheman]

From the few games I've watched, Rutger was finding good looks but would fumble the puck or just miss the net. Seemed like a confidence issue and just getting up to speed in a new league

 

[Jacob]

From the few games I've watched, Rutger was finding good looks but would fumble the puck or just miss the net. Seemed like a confidence issue and just getting up to speed in a new league

Maybe just putting too fine a point on things instead of just gripping and ripping it, like he did on his goal.

He’s 2 years older but Broz is exceeding my expectations. Might be one of those guys that just does better in the pros than his NCAA production would suggest, like Rust.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Broz has been awesome. Dude forechecks like a menace and rips a shot every time he has a chance

 

[Gurglesons]

Maybe just putting too fine a point on things instead of just gripping and ripping it, like he did on his goal.

He’s 2 years older but Broz is exceeding my expectations. Might be one of those guys that just does better in the pros than his NCAA production would suggest, like Rust.

Seems like the type of Hextall pick that develops later.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Sure, we can blame McGroarty. But we KNEW what we were acquiring. This was a prospect who felt he was ready for the NHL, but his previous organization prefers veterans over younger players. Whether that is true of Winnipeg is open for debate. But for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it sure as hell is true.

So we acquire him for our top prospect and basically treat him like any other prospect. Go down kid and we will call you when (if) we need you.

This entire thing was botched from the start. This is an example of the disconnect between Sullivan and Dubas. Because if Dubas really does love Sullivan as much as some suggest, then he is as dumb as rocks! Because he had to know that Sullivan would want no part of McGroarty before age 25.

If this does not change, then it won't matter how badly we tank or whom we draft. Let's all remember, Mike Sullivan was not around when Crosby, Malkin and Letang were starting out.

 

[Jacob]

My argument is if McG thinks he’s NHL ready he should have no trouble showing it in the AHL.

 

[DearDiary]

Sure, we can blame McGroarty. But we KNEW what we were acquiring. This was a prospect who felt he was ready for the NHL, but his previous organization prefers veterans over younger players. Whether that is true of Winnipeg is open for debate. But for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it sure as hell is true.

So we acquire him for our top prospect and basically treat him like any other prospect. Go down kid and we will call you when (if) we need you.

This entire thing was botched from the start. This is an example of the disconnect between Sullivan and Dubas. Because if Dubas really does love Sullivan as much as some suggest, then he is as dumb as rocks! Because he had to know that Sullivan would want no part of McGroarty before age 25.

If this does not change, then it won't matter how badly we tank or whom we draft. Let's all remember, Mike Sullivan was not around when Crosby, Malkin and Letang were starting out.

People here acting like Sullivan is benching top prospects like Michkov for Acciari. McGroarty at his absolute peak with everything going right is a 2nd line forward.

The reality is that the Pens prospects aren't that good and should be developing with top minutes in the AHL in the hopes that they become something.

 

[Pancakes]

People here acting like Sullivan is benching top prospects like Michkov for Acciari. McGroarty at his absolute peak with everything going right is a 2nd line forward.

The reality is that the Pens prospects aren't that good and should be developing with top minutes in the AHL in the hopes that they become something.

Yeah I mean McGroarty clearly needs work. If he was NHL ready he would be dominating the AHL right now and he's not.

This isn't like say Puustinen who has proved it at the AHL level repeatedly and yet still gets jerked around by Sullivan and not given chances. McGroarty has done nothing at either the NHL or AHL level to show that he's NHL ready. He just hasn't.

Kid needs time. It's fine. He's 20. He'll figure it out.

 

[canadianguy77]

Yeah I mean McGroarty clearly needs work. If he was NHL ready he would be dominating the AHL right now and he's not.

This isn't like say Puustinen who has proved it at the AHL level repeatedly and yet still gets jerked around by Sullivan and not given chances. McGroarty has done nothing at either the NHL or AHL level to show that he's NHL ready. He just hasn't.

Kid needs time. It's fine. He's 20. He'll figure it out.

Theres also a fairly decent chance he doesn’t figure it out. Anyway, we’re definitely the wrong type of organization for a player like him.

 

[Pancakes]

Theres also a fairly decent chance he doesn’t figure it out. Anyway, we’re definitely the wrong type of organization for a player like him.

We're the wrong type of organization for any prospect because we have Mike Sullivan behind the bench and he doesn't treat prospects well.

Nevertheless, we're stuck with him so the best we can hope for is that WBS does a good job developing the kids they get to work with. Sullivan sure isn't gonna do it.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

...and you guys have very succinctly and effectively illustrated why I wonder what the actual f*** this team is trying to do.

Just keep spending FFS. Heck maybe they even hit on a good trade/FA and make the playoffs and rake in a few million more in revenue. It's not the win I want but it's probably the best that can be hoped for until this asinine spell is broken. The Penguins will never be a "rebuilding" team with this HC at the helm. I mean unless you WANT an utterly hamfisted, self-sabotaged version of a rebuild.

 

[cookthebooks]

i mean if you think sullivan is the problem all the prospects staying in wbs seems like a good thing for now.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

People here acting like Sullivan is benching top prospects like Michkov for Acciari. McGroarty at his absolute peak with everything going right is a 2nd line forward.

The reality is that the Pens prospects aren't that good and should be developing with top minutes in the AHL in the hopes that they become something.

Developing until age 26, of course. That is the team M.O.

Maybe they were told to save on potential Calder trophy bonuses! Can't win the award if you are not eligible!!!

 

[Empoleon8771]

Getting back to actual prospects since this isn't a Sullivan thread, I just checked in on Brunicke and he's having a great year statistically. Up to 12 points in 15 games already, he's over halfway to his production from last year (21 points in 49 games). It seems like he took the momentum he gained from his pre-season performance and has been strong in juniors.

Howe is looking a bit mid, 5 goals and 6 points in 8 games is decent (especially the amount of goals) but I think you'd be hoping for more out of a guy in his draft+1 year. Especially considering he's AHL eligible next year and is in his 4th WHL season, you would be hoping for a more dominant showing from him.

The good news is that a lot of their later 2024 draftees are having strong starts to the year. Pietila (7 points in 8 games at Michigan Tech), Swanson (6 points in 9 games at North Dakota) and Harding (17 points in 17 games in the OHL) are all looking pretty good so far. Adding on Brunicke to that group and it seems like the 2024 class is looking really good so far for the Penguins.

With Swanson, he's producing very similarly to a couple of his higher drafted teammates like Perron (3rd rounder in 2023) and Boisvert (1st rounder in 2024). It's still ridiculously early so you can't jump to any conclusions, but his early season performance is more in line with a 2nd or 3rd rounder than a 6th rounder.