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

[chethejet]

Pens need grinders who will bring that element of bang in the system. It isn't about talent, it is about the roster and fit. Broz, Rutgers, Brunicke, Pieneimi and Howe bring the kind of ability to make the transition from the Sid era not as bumpy.

 

[eXile3]

Agreed!!

I really liked Howe this tournament to be honest, and it's really not about stats when it comes to him. The guy plays hard, never takes a shift off and is always giving his 110% out there. I'm willing to bet he turns into a full NHLer down the road as a 3rd liner.

Sounds more like a 4th liner. I know we’re the Pens so we forget sometimes but a 3rd line is expected to score now.

He’s going to need to be able to put up 35-40 points to be on a 3rd line. I don’t think there’s anyway to tell if he can do that this early in his career.

 

[Duffy13]

If he becomes a guy who can be a PP specialist and play on the 3rd pair, thats a win for a 3rd rd pick IMO.

Why look for a Gryz when we already have Gryz?

It was fun watching some Pens prospects play high profile games. Wish Howe was able to do a bit better but that whole team was hindered by very bad coaching.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Why look for a Gryz when we already have Gryz?

It was fun watching some Pens prospects play high profile games. Wish Howe was able to do a bit better but that whole team was hindered by very bad coaching.

Yeah, I didn't watch all of the tournament, but I hestitate to draw any conclusions about any Canadian prospects from that tournament.

 

[SEALBound]

I'm more excited about Pieniniemi now than before WJC. I thought he looked pretty darn good in that game last night. He doesn't have the flash of Hutson or Buium but man did he play some solid defense. Dumoulin vibes. If he could come in and be a solid 3rd pairing guy to start then maybe grow into a Dumo/Pettersson role, that would be a major win. Pie-Brunicke has the making of a solid future pairing.

 

[Speaker City]

Why look for a Gryz when we already have Gryz?

Cheaper cost, more size, and Dubas should be shipping out Gryz for a pick/prospect the first chance he gets.

 

[Duffy13]

Cheaper cost, more size, and Dubas should be shipping out Gryz for a pick/prospect the first chance he gets.

Yes absolutely, sorry, I was just being a silly arse.

 

[Turin]

Actually no. I guess he's ok for a 3rd rounder, but he's far too careless with the puck. He's like Derrick Pouliot. Really poor in his own end. Not player Sullivan will like at all! Tanner Howe? Sullivan will LOVE him. He's great away from the puck. A real heart and soul guy.

Nice for the PP good first pass, but his overall game leaves a lot to be desired.

No

 

[SEALBound]

Cheaper cost, more size, and Dubas should be shipping out Gryz for a pick/prospect the first chance he gets.

Agreed. Though Graves in full time still gives me pause for concern.

POJ-Letang
Pick-Karls
Graves-JSI-Shea

would be okay with me though. A basic swap of Gryz for Pickering is fine and what we should be doing anyway.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm still sticking with my Goligoski comparison for Pieniniemi, I'm not sure if he quite hits the same upside as Goligoski but "offensive leaning 2-way D and PPQB" seems to fit Pieniniemi's playstyle. Really curious to see how he does once he turns pro

 

[Ulf5]

Cheaper cost, more size, and Dubas should be shipping out Gryz for a pick/prospect the first chance he gets.

Ha! Sully was just heaping praise on him. Comparing him to Paul Martin. An extension is more likely.

 

[Speaker City]

Agreed. Though Graves in full time still gives me pause for concern.

Stick him with Letang and guarantee a top 3 pick? They have retention spots opening up next year, would someone want him at 2.25? Or do we pray the cap doesnt go up as much and uncle Gary opens a compliance buyout?

Ha! Sully was just heaping praise on him. Comparing him to Paul Martin. An extension is more likely.

Hes putting up pts, ill give him that. Maybe someone like Dallas or LA would pick him up to help their struggling PPs?

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Sounds more like a 4th liner. I know we’re the Pens so we forget sometimes but a 3rd line is expected to score now.

He’s going to need to be able to put up 35-40 points to be on a 3rd line. I don’t think there’s anyway to tell if he can do that this early in his career.

He's had decent offensive numbers the past 3 seasons. yes I know it's juniors but he has shown he can score. Time will tell

 

[Peat]

Sounds more like a 4th liner. I know we’re the Pens so we forget sometimes but a 3rd line is expected to score now.

He’s going to need to be able to put up 35-40 points to be on a 3rd line. I don’t think there’s anyway to tell if he can do that this early in his career.

Median third line scorer in the NHL is going to be about the 240th scorer. Right now that guy is pacing for 31 points. People have overly high expectations for what 3rd line scoring looks like, even in today's NHL.

I'd also add that having a relentless motor and a fearless willingness to go to dirty areas is going to do as much to pick him up points in the NHL as good hands (not that good hands aren't all over his scouting report anyway). There's a reason Brandon Tanev has good production in this league and it's not his hands.

eta: When you do find someone whose motor and willingness remains a plus all the way through to the NHL, and they do have good hands, that's when you start finding the Hornys/Rusts/Hymans/Hagelins/Hagels/Lehkonens and so that are found all over the NHL as the gritty third wheel on a scoring line. Not saying that's what Howe will become (for one thing, not every guy carries it over and for another, I'm not sure this athleticism will allow him to) but that's the ceiling and sometimes that ceiling goes wildly higher if they find the right fit. This is, first and foremost, an effort league. It's really tough to out-effort NHLers but people who can do it get the best opportunities their hands allow and then a little extra.

 

[Ryder71]

No

Oh yes, did you watch the tournament? He was an adventure in his end and his puck management was precarious at best.

 

[eXile3]

Median third line scorer in the NHL is going to be about the 240th scorer. Right now that guy is pacing for 31 points. People have overly high expectations for what 3rd line scoring looks like, even in today's NHL.

I'd also add that having a relentless motor and a fearless willingness to go to dirty areas is going to do as much to pick him up points in the NHL as good hands (not that good hands aren't all over his scouting report anyway). There's a reason Brandon Tanev has good production in this league and it's not his hands.

eta: When you do find someone whose motor and willingness remains a plus all the way through to the NHL, and they do have good hands, that's when you start finding the Hornys/Rusts/Hymans/Hagelins/Hagels/Lehkonens and so that are found all over the NHL as the gritty third wheel on a scoring line. Not saying that's what Howe will become (for one thing, not every guy carries it over and for another, I'm not sure this athleticism will allow him to) but that's the ceiling and sometimes that ceiling goes wildly higher if they find the right fit. This is, first and foremost, an effort league. It's really tough to out-effort NHLers but people who can do it get the best opportunities their hands allow and then a little extra.

Right but if you look at teams competing for Cups, which is what you hope to do, it’s closer to 40.

I agree that he could very well could be a productive NHLer. It’s way too early to tell. I was just stating that you do need to produce at some level even on a 3rd line.

 

[steelcityassault]

I'm more excited about Pieniniemi now than before WJC. I thought he looked pretty darn good in that game last night. He doesn't have the flash of Hutson or Buium but man did he play some solid defense. Dumoulin vibes. If he could come in and be a solid 3rd pairing guy to start then maybe grow into a Dumo/Pettersson role, that would be a major win. Pie-Brunicke has the making of a solid future pairing.

Yea that kid can move the puck ... and has a better shot than I ever expected

 

[Peat]

Right but if you look at teams competing for Cups, which is what you hope to do, it’s closer to 40.

I agree that he could very well could be a productive NHLer. It’s way too early to tell. I was just stating that you do need to produce at some level even on a 3rd line.

Then we are in agreement on the second paragraph - I feel good but not amazing about his trajectory there as a second rounder.

The first... I'm feeling too lazy to go look it up, but I do somewhat wonder

a) How true that is, as a lot of the increased goal totals in the league are being driven by the superstars rather than a rise in scoring
b) How much of it is that guys who'd get 30 points on an okay team get 40 points on a great team because there's one extra piece to elevate things, or because they get a few more garbage time points against broken teams - rather than great teams find depth pieces who'll score 40 on their own rather than 30.

 

[Ryder71]

I'm more excited about Pieniniemi now than before WJC. I thought he looked pretty darn good in that game last night. He doesn't have the flash of Hutson or Buium but man did he play some solid defense. Dumoulin vibes. If he could come in and be a solid 3rd pairing guy to start then maybe grow into a Dumo/Pettersson role, that would be a major win. Pie-Brunicke has the making of a solid future pairing.

He's gonna have to improve his positioning mightily in the D zone to be effective in the NHL. He got walked around several times and pinched at inopportune times. Vibes of Pouliot. Offensively he's smooth, solid on the PP, good vision. But inside the D zone just no! Sullivan would hate him. Not that I expect Sullivan to be here when he could make the jump in a couple of years.

 

[SEALBound]

He's gonna have to improve his positioning mightily in the D zone to be effective in the NHL. He got walked around several times and pinched at inopportune times. Vibes of Pouliot. Offensively he's smooth, solid on the PP, good vision. But inside the D zone just no! Sullivan would hate him. Not that I expect Sullivan to be here when he could make the jump in a couple of years.

Interesting. That's not quite the take I had when watching him but I appreciate that viewpoint. It's still the WJC and he's still in the OHL. Agreed that he will need some seasoning in the AHL but he's a good dark horse prospect for us.

 

[Ryder71]

Interesting. That's not quite the take I had when watching him but I appreciate that viewpoint. It's still the WJC and he's still in the OHL. Agreed that he will need some seasoning in the AHL but he's a good dark horse prospect for us.

His skating and offensive acumen likely translate well to the NHL. But he needs a ton of work in his end. He could be a PP specialist relatively early on. But he's gonna have to be paired with a stud and staunch RHD partner.

 

[eXile3]

Then we are in agreement on the second paragraph - I feel good but not amazing about his trajectory there as a second rounder.

The first... I'm feeling too lazy to go look it up, but I do somewhat wonder

a) How true that is, as a lot of the increased goal totals in the league are being driven by the superstars rather than a rise in scoring
b) How much of it is that guys who'd get 30 points on an okay team get 40 points on a great team because there's one extra piece to elevate things, or because they get a few more garbage time points against broken teams - rather than great teams find depth pieces who'll score 40 on their own rather than 30.

Yes that’s absolutely happening in both instances. Minny is a good example of A and for B I don’t have one off the top of my head but that absolutely happens as a trickle down effect.

But, so does just having a good 3rd line. Florida is a good example of that. I will concede that most 3rd liners score in somewhere in the mid to lower 30 point areas.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm more excited about Pieniniemi now than before WJC. I thought he looked pretty darn good in that game last night. He doesn't have the flash of Hutson or Buium but man did he play some solid defense. Dumoulin vibes. If he could come in and be a solid 3rd pairing guy to start then maybe grow into a Dumo/Pettersson role, that would be a major win. Pie-Brunicke has the making of a solid future pairing.

Don't agree with this at all. He was a total mess in the 3 Finnish games I watched defensively.

Definitely was more impressed with his offensive play than his defensive.

 

[cygnus47]

Yes that’s absolutely happening in both instances. Minny is a good example of A and for B I don’t have one off the top of my head but that absolutely happens as a trickle down effect.

But, so does just having a good 3rd line. Florida is a good example of that. I will concede that most 3rd liners score in somewhere in the mid to lower 30 point areas.

Yeah there’s also (c) young guy that gets 20-30 points because he only gets like 8 minutes of ES ice time with less talent around him which is different to a vet bottom 6 that doesn’t help his line mates. Cup contenders have veteran guys in the bottom 6 better than average at their roles, guys playing better than before because the team is working and young guys that are almost ready for more ice time.

 

[Ryder71]

Don't agree with this at all. He was a total mess in the 3 Finnish games I watched defensively.

Definitely was more impressed with his offensive play than his defensive.

Wow, we agree on this one! What is going on?