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

[steelcityassault]

Team would be lucky if Pickering turned into a guy who has a 350+ game NHL career tbh. Dude seems very boom or bust.

He's all physical attributes with no brain. So I agree

 

[Andy99]

He's all physical attributes with no brain. So I agree

Why do the Pens love stupid players? It’s the bane of my existence lol

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Why do the Pens love stupid players? It’s the bane of my existence lol

I'll take dumbass players with high upside. Better than the "really smart player" euphemism for "kinda shit at the game but listens to the coach unquestioningly".

 

[Andy99]

I'll take dumbass players with high upside. Better than the "really smart player" euphemism for "kinda shit at the game but listens to the coach unquestioningly".

Can we find a happy medium between high upside and high hockey IQ? Some more Crosbys and Malkins please lol

 

[Jacob]

Yager is back.. 1+1 last light.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Random but I believe Yager was one game away in 20-21 from being AHL eligible next season. Wonder if we can get a Wright-like exemption; but don’t know if we’d want to.

Edit- Actually if you include playoff games he might be AHL eligible.

 

[Jacob]

Random but I believe Yager was one game away in 20-21 from being AHL eligible next season. Wonder if we can get a Wright-like exemption; but don’t know if we’d want to.

Edit- Actually if you include playoff games he might be AHL eligible.

It's based on age or number of seasons rather than games played. Either 4 CHL seasons completed or turning 20. Since he's a 2005 birth year he's eligible for the AHL at the start of the 2025-26 season. I don't know if that partial season counts for him or not.

 

[Peat]

Random but I believe Yager was one game away in 20-21 from being AHL eligible next season. Wonder if we can get a Wright-like exemption; but don’t know if we’d want to.

Edit- Actually if you include playoff games he might be AHL eligible.

Probably very academic but why wouldn't you want to?

 

[The Old Master]

Probably very academic but why wouldn't you want to?

yeah! if he gets strong enough to play in the ahl he can play in the nhl

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

It's based on age or number of seasons rather than games played. Either 4 CHL seasons completed or turning 20. Since he's a 2005 birth year he's eligible for the AHL at the start of the 2025-26 season. I don't know if that partial season counts for him or not.

yeah my game argument is season related. My edit was wrong, he didn’t play in the postseason in 20-21.

Hard to confirm but some talk around Shane Wright had the CHL counting a season as 25 games (Wright played 24 including playoffs).

Yager is a Jan 3rd bday, with 24 games that first year. You could probably ask for a similar exception as Wright but I’m not sure what the ruling would be.

Probably very academic but why wouldn't you want to?

Idk could just see it as a “let the kid dominate, play 25 mins, touch a puck a bunch, not rush him” argument. He’s also listed at 160 lbs.

Could see the inverse argument of “he’s played 4 years at the same level and for the sake of not stagnating it’s time for a jump in competition” too however.

I don’t really know what I’d prefer personally.

 

[Jacob]

Hmm I'd say it counts, looking at it again. Yager was allowed to play in 00-01 because of limited availability at lower levels due to COVID restrictions. They didn't grant him 'exceptional' status like Wright or Ekblad but it seems like that would be considered a full season given he played 100% of MJ's games.

Wright played 0 games in 00-01 due to Covid but they are apparently still counting that as a season.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

I mean, ideally, a season in the NCAA next year would probably be the best, but, can't really swing that in his position as far as i know.

 

[Jacob]

Someone should look into whether or not Yager is AHL eligible because that really is an interesting question.

Perhaps Moose Jaw already knows the answer which is why they got Savoie and made a couple smaller moves. They're planning on losing the 04s and Yager.

 

[Peat]

Idk could just see it as a “let the kid dominate, play 25 mins, touch a puck a bunch, not rush him” argument. He’s also listed at 160 lbs.

Could see the inverse argument of “he’s played 4 years at the same level and for the sake of not stagnating it’s time for a jump in competition” too however.

I don’t really know what I’d prefer personally.

It's tricky for me in that I think once a guy is blowing past ppg, its time to move up.

But CHL to AHL is a big jump, particularly for a guy who is only 160lbs.

That said, I don't think the AHL time harmed the guys like Tomasino who jumped in at 19 thanks to Covid, and probably helped.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, I think you try to bring guys up to the AHL/pro game asap so they can get a feel for the speed and physicality of it all, and ideally get a better understanding of what the organization wants from them long term.

 

[steelcityassault]

I'll take dumbass players with high upside. Better than the "really smart player" euphemism for "kinda shit at the game but listens to the coach unquestioningly".

So you'll take a Zlobin pick over a Guentzel.. wonderful

 

[Randy Butternubs]

So you'll take a Zlobin pick over a Guentzel.. wonderful

Skillful-minded biscuit scorer.

For those that don't know or weren't around:

Anton Zlobin A Perfect Fit For Malkin’s Line

Evgeni Malkin has seen his fair share of wingers throughout his NHL career. Beau Bennett, Zach Boychuk, Matt Cooke, Ruslan Fedotenko, Jarome Igi...

penslabyrinth.com

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

So you'll take a Zlobin pick over a Guentzel.. wonderful

Smart can be coached.

-edit- I think for every smaller, "high IQ" guy like Jake that makes it to where he's at, there's about 300 guys who don't. And I meant more along the lines that I'd take a flier on a wild card like Sprong with a specialized shot/skill than someone safer whose notable attribute is hockey IQ and nothing else.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

The weird part is that he won rookie of the year the next season after 20-21.

It's tricky for me in that I think once a guy is blowing past ppg, its time to move up.

But CHL to AHL is a big jump, particularly for a guy who is only 160lbs.

That said, I don't think the AHL time harmed the guys like Tomasino who jumped in at 19 thanks to Covid, and probably helped.

The AHL was a little weaker that year due to the influx of prospects IMO- but once I think about it I’d rather Yager jump up than play 5 years of junior. He’s also 3 days away from the cutoff.

However, the more I think about it the more I believe he’s ineligible for the AHL.

 

[Jacob]

I do think if he played in the AHL next year he wouldn't be like, an instant offensive force. Maybe like a middle-6 type role in the AHL.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

idk exactly who would be similar to Yager but Heidt, Cristall played games in the Covid season. And probably a lot of other 2023 picks. A large contingent of those guys matriculating on top of the 2004 class would gut the WHL next year so not sure they’d let it happen.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, I can't imagine them letting it happen.

I can imagine him getting fairly gaudy points totals as I could see him becoming a PP focal point quickly, but that doesn't mean he'd be kicking ass over all.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Poulin with another deflection goal tonight.

If only the Pens needed a forward with skill willing to go to the front of the net in the NHL

 

[Jacob]

Blomqvist has made some unreal saves.

 

[Grouch]

Poulin with another deflection goal tonight.

If only the Pens needed a forward with skill willing to go to the front of the net in the NHL

Poulin with the goal.....Hino with points in 7 of 9 gms, and White out. Who's the call-up tomorrow?

Edit: 8 in 9