Prospect Info: Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects Thread: 2023-2024 Edition

[Tom Hanks]

Taylor’s story on Finn. Did she time it with the end of Shark Week?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1812282093449433401

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

The top 5 and then the entire list with a little bit more info:

Text version:

Spoiler

rank	player	ceiling	potential	max p/82	readiness	overall	std%
1	yager b	f - first - all star	6.4	53	3.4	58.2	89.6%
2	blomqvist j	goalie - g nhl - starter	5.6	n/a	7.0	57.1	87.8%
3	pickering o	d - top - star	5.4	37	2.8	49.1	75.5%
4	ponomaryov v	f - second - two way	4.6	37	6.1	48.3	74.3%
5	koivunen v	f - second - scorer	4.3	35	6.7	48.0	73.8%
6	murashov s	goalie - g nhl - starter	5.4	n/a	3.9	45.6	70.2%
7	ilyin m	f - second - two way	4.5	37	5.7	44.4	68.4%
8	poulin s	f - third - complimentary	3.3	27	6.0	43.7	67.2%
9	howe t	f - second - two way	4.3	35	3.1	38.9	59.8%
10	pieniniemi e	d - middle - two way	3.6	24	4.8	37.8	58.2%
11	gauthier t	goalie - g nhl - backup	3.5	n/a	5.0	35.6	54.7%
12	swanson m	f - second - scorer	4.3	35	2.4	34.1	52.4%
13	plante z	f - second - scorer	4.3	35	2.1	33.8	52.0%
14	jarventie e	f - second - scorer	4.3	35	2.0	32.9	50.5%
15	gruden j	f - fourth - complimentary	2.5	21	5.5	32.7	50.4%
16	kral f	d - bottom - complimentary	2.5	17	5.9	32.6	50.1%
17	brunicke h	d - middle - two way	3.6	24	2.1	32.3	49.7%
18	ludvig j	d - bottom - defense only	2.4	16	5.5	32.0	49.2%
19	broz t	f - third - scorer	3.4	28	2.5	31.9	49.1%
20	tankov k	f - second - complimentary	3.8	31	2.5	31.2	48.0%
21	belliveau i	d - bottom - complimentary	2.5	17	4.6	29.2	44.9%
22	lucius c	f - third - two way	3.2	26	2.5	28.9	44.5%
23	foster c	f - third - two way	3.2	26	2.6	28.7	44.1%
24	vaisanen j	d - bottom - two way	2.7	18	2.4	24.6	37.9%
25	pietila c	d - bottom - two way	2.7	18	2.1	24.5	37.7%
26	harding f	d - bottom - two way	2.7	18	2.0	23.2	35.6%
27	ansons r	f - extra - complimentary	1.5	12	4.5	22.5	34.6%
28	yoder c	f - fourth - two way	2.4	20	1.6	20.9	32.2%
29	devlin l	f - fourth - two way	2.4	20	1.2	20.2	31.0%
30	laatsch d	d - bottom - defense only	2.2	15	1.8	19.4	29.8%
31	kangas k	d - bottom - defense only	2.2	15	1.5	18.7	28.8%
32	frasca j	minor - two way	0.8	7	4.1	16.5	25.4%

What is your system in regards to putting a numerical value on potential?

 

[deakka]

Taylor’s story on Finn. Did she time it with the end of Shark Week?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1812282093449433401

Where can you see how many points are es/pp etc?
Where trying to see the same thing nn brunicke. But didn't see tje stat on whl.ca (were looking at mobile tho)

 

[Tom Hanks]

Where can you see how many points are es/pp etc?
Where trying to see the same thing nn brunicke. But didn't see tje stat on whl.ca (were looking at mobile tho)

Found this Steelhead player stats for Harding

Looks like you need to go into the teams players stat list as individual stats page only shows powerplay/short handed goals not assists

Brunicke Blazers player stats

 

[deakka]

Looks like they both were 2nd on the team in ESP among D.
I wonder if Brunicke will be the no.1 PP guy or if they have someone more offensive minded?
the mian PP guy from last season is not on the team anymore.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Get rid of Nieto too. WB/S has enough forwards and he’s not one of our top 14 skaters.

Your hate-boner for Matt Nieto is one of the more bizarre takes on this site.
But anyway, it doesn't matter, since he's going to be injured all season.

 

[deakka]

Doesnt the 50 contract limit seems a bit low?
Or are we just bad at managing it?
Theres like 4 guys in WBS i rather have on an ELC rather than AHL deals instead of the likes of MacArthur and Johnstone taking up contract spots.

 

[chethejet]

Pens management is seeing players who they may really like and will clear some contracts before the season starts, The next camp of prospects camp will shed additional light on who is a keeper. It's an ongoing process but at least there are more options and better options doe who is valued here.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

What is your system in regards to putting a numerical value on potential?

Potential is a combo of ceiling (75%) and floor (25%). Then both of those are broken out into first line/pair, second line/pair, starter, and the like. And then there's the role of "all star", "scorer", "two way", "defense only", and the like with the line/pair. A potential of "generational all star" would be the top. "Minor league defense only" is the bottom. Once I get to my laptop I can look at the model's values.

Yep. "Generational All Star" gets a 10.0 while "Minor Leaguer Defense Only" gets a 0.667. Weighted at 75/25 that comes out to a 7.667 overall potential rating. A "2nd line scorer" ceiling and an "extra forward" floor equates to a 4.54 overall potential.

 

[Jacob]

Your hate-boner for Matt Nieto is one of the more bizarre takes on this site.
But anyway, it doesn't matter, since he's going to be injured all season.

He sucks and is a waste of a contract spot. I have no personal feelings towards him. He seems like a good guy.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Been reading up on Lindren a bit. He was pretty highly regarded in his draft season. Really good skater with really good hockey sense. Major downside was that he was a total adventure in the D zone. Will be interesting to see if his regression in his D+1 and D+2 seasons can be reverted.

 

[Malkinstheman]

This sounds pretty exciting:

The Kamloops Blazers’ defender is arguably one of the better skaters in the draft, using finely-tuned edge work to quickly change directions and avoid trouble, along with a smooth stride making his rapid shifts in pace and direction seem effortless. He’s not the fastest skater out there, nor does he have the quickest acceleration, but once he has the puck, there’s little chance someone can out maneuver him. Honestly, it’s just a joy to watch him skate

This sounds like maybe it could be fixable?

The biggest concern with Lindgren is his consistency and overall influence on the game. The modern defenceman needs to make a strong first pass to be considered effective, yet Lindgren seems to rely more on his teammates to do that and get him the puck. Without the puck, he ranges from a decent defenceman able to quickly close gaps thanks to his brilliant skating, to a liability on defence, failing to rush back to cover an opponent and creating odd-man rushes and high-danger scoring chances

 

[Al Smith]

"Without the puck, he ranges from a decent defenceman able to quickly close gaps thanks to his brilliant skating, to a liability on defence, failing to rush back to cover an opponent and creating odd-man rushes and high-danger scoring chances"

Sounds like he'll fit right into our system.

 

[Ulf5]

:

"Without the puck, he ranges from a decent defenceman able to quickly close gaps thanks to his brilliant skating, to a liability on defence, failing to rush back to cover an opponent and creating odd-man rushes and high-danger scoring chances"

Sounds like he'll fit right into our system.

Just put him with 58 and let Tanger cover for his defensive miscues.

 

[Jacob]

Lindgren’s the kinda guy you like to see targeted. Young, as in not some 24 year old college grad, a decent prospect that maybe got lost in the shuffle in Boston, either due to them having lots of other prospects in the mix or inept, preoccupied management or both.

I wouldn’t expect Brookbank to be some kind of magical defenseman whisperer but he’s got the playing and coaching experience that you’d think can turn a project into an NHL possibility, if anyone can. St. Ivany made huge strides in only a year or so.

And there’s probably gonna be a spot or two available on the WB/S blueline, especially for any lefty that can play the right side, with only Hollowell Clurman, who seems like a limited-use stay-at-home 3rd pair guy even by AHL standards.

Kral, Shea, Pickering, should be a spot open even if everyone’s healthy, which they won’t be.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Dubas knows the key to the Pens going forward is going from all in to going to prospects for the coming transition of the roster to younger talent. For now, the trend is building the farm system and scouting, development and competition for roster spots. I do think Pens were looking for RH D this draft as a priority despite the best player available mantra, Hopefully next draft, RW is the priority.

Yeah we want to see a 2016-2017 esk infusion of young legs to make one more go. Murray, Rust, Sheary, Kuhnhackl, Wilson, Guentzel all came up in that period. Maata was already here, and Schultz panned out splendidly as a reclamation project. Maybe that ends up being Blomqvist, Yager, Koivunen, Pickering, Ponomarev, Poulin, St Ivany, Gruden this time around.

 

[steelcityassault]

Yeah we want to see a 2016-2017 esk infusion of young legs to make one more go. Murray, Rust, Sheary, Kuhnhackl, Wilson, Guentzel all came up in that period. Maata was already here, and Schultz panned out splendidly as a reclamation project. Maybe that ends up being Blomqvist, Yager, Koivunen, Pickering, Ponomarev, Poulin, St Ivany, Gruden this time around.

Gruden would be like the Archibald of that group, I'd presume

 

[DesertPenguin]

Gruden would be like the Archibald of that group, I'd presume

Maybe im bullish, but I think he has Kuhnhackl potential. Dependable 4th liner. Maybe he's the un named Carter Rowney of the group.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Not sure what the average usually is but WBS seems to be super young this year. Average age of only 23. Most veteran goalie on the team is Blomqvist and most veteran D is Shea.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I know I'm late to this conversation, but skating can be improved, even for older players. Luc Robitaille credits his time with power skating coach Laura Stamm in the late 80's with getting him into the NHL. He also worked with her in the late 90's when his production was plummeting. Albeit, it only took him from "so bad it's almost an affront" to "not good at all," with hard work it can be improved. I'm definitely not saying Koivunen will have a career like the second-best left wing of all time, but he kind of strikes me as that type of player. He has the puck/stick skills, shot, playmaking, deflections, the awareness, offensive acumen, he just needs to elevate his skating to tie all of that together.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I know I'm late to this conversation, but skating can be improved, even for older players. Luc Robitaille credits his time with power skating coach Laura Stamm in the late 80's with getting him into the NHL. He also worked with her in the late 90's when his production was plummeting. Albeit, it only took him from "so bad it's almost an affront" to "not good at all," with hard work it can be improved. I'm definitely not saying Koivunen will have a career like the second-best left wing of all time, but he kind of strikes me as that type of player. He has the puck/stick skills, shot, playmaking, deflections, the awareness, offensive acumen, he just needs to elevate his skating to tie all of that together.

With the amount of money FSG has been throwing at hockey ops, heres hoping they hire some skating coaches to stalk Koivunen the next couple of years. Several of the Lightnings late round gems (Point) are a result of working with Barbara Underhill

 

[eXile3]

I know I'm late to this conversation, but skating can be improved, even for older players. Luc Robitaille credits his time with power skating coach Laura Stamm in the late 80's with getting him into the NHL. He also worked with her in the late 90's when his production was plummeting. Albeit, it only took him from "so bad it's almost an affront" to "not good at all," with hard work it can be improved. I'm definitely not saying Koivunen will have a career like the second-best left wing of all time, but he kind of strikes me as that type of player. He has the puck/stick skills, shot, playmaking, deflections, the awareness, offensive acumen, he just needs to elevate his skating to tie all of that together.

I took a power skating class when I was 16 and it was basically night and day. It didn’t make me the fastest skater but it probably took me from the worst skater to passable for mid tier?

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I took a power skating class when I was 16 and it was basically night and day. It didn’t make me the fastest skater but it probably took me from the worst skater to passable for mid tier?

I need to. I live out west where there are no rinks. From basically 05-21 when my city finally got an ice rink, all I played was inline. BUT placed at NARCh twice. When I got back to ice, I had forgotten where my outside edges were.

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

I'm pretty sure Matt Cullen's skating when he was drafted was meh but it became a big strength of his even late in his career when most usually lose a step or two by that age.

 

[SomeDude]

Not to be a wet blanket, but I have a feeling by the time these guys have been drafted they've gone through extensive personalized skating instruction. That was a pretty new concept in the 80's, 90's and even early 00's and would make sense why guys back then could upgrade their game drastically by taking it on.

In this day and age any respectable competitive youth, junior, college, etc. program has extensive power skating training. Even many non-respectable ones have it, such as the ones I went through.