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

[Andy99]

Yeah, 23-26 are prime forward years…if he doesn’t make it by next season though he probably has little chance of being an impact forward

 

[Ryder71]

I completely agreed with this but now I am slightly hesitant for a couple reasons to label him a complete bust.
First, he's still only 22. We seen plenty of players breakout a bit later than others.
Second, he seems to have more drive and certainly has far better production since his hiatus from the game. It seems he has silenced whatever demons he was facing for the time being. Can he keep it going when he returns from injury?
The rest of this season should tell the tale. He should get a callup at some point. I wouldn't cast him aside just yet. The odds are certainly long. But let's hope he can become a productive at least 3rd liner at this point.

You make a good point, ok, lets see how he does if he gets called up.

If we’re still counting Puustinen who was in the same draft and is 2 years older then Poulin should obviously still count. He’s not even waiver eligible yet.

Pu IMO is a borderline guy, he hasn't exactly seized his opportunities. I know many blame Sully but...

 

[Darren McCord]

Yeah, 23-26 are prime forward years…if he doesn’t make it by next season though he probably has little chance of being an impact forward

Poulin is a bigger guy with some injury trouble. They usually have later primes but also shorter peaks unless they are elite.

 

[Freeptop]

I said this a few years ago, and I still think it's true: Covid is going to have a long tail in terms of its effect on prospects' development.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of prospects take a bit longer to develop in general for a few more years, yet.

 

[Jacob]

Poulin hasn’t had much injury trouble. No surgeries, etc. He missed parts of 2 seasons because of Covid and last year due to mental health.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Poulin hasn’t had much injury trouble. No surgeries, etc. He missed parts of 2 seasons because of Covid and last year due to mental health.

He's had two extended absences this year due to injury. He missed over a month due to an injury and has now been out a couple weeks due to another injury. Over the past two seasons, he's played 44 total professional games. That's a ton of missed development.

I'm a Poulin fan. I think he can play in the middle six in the NHL. But the lack of development time in his early 20s is beginning to be a big factor.

 

[Jacob]

He's had two extended absences this year due to injury. He missed over a month due to an injury and has now been out a couple weeks due to another injury.

A month and a week isn’t “injury troubles” in my view. A torn ACL or multiple concussions is. He’s never had any serious injuries or missed any significant time due to injuries.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I wouldn't say he has injury problems necessarily. But losing this much development time at this stage definitely isn't a good thing. Frustrating because he seems to have some shit luck. He definitely looked like a guy that was beginning to really put things together before this recent injury. Hope he gets right back on track. He's one of like... maybe three NHL-ready players of any interest in the whole system.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Poulin should just be learning on the job at the NHL level imo. I say this as someone who isn't particularly optimistic about him. Shit, all of Poulin, Puustinen and probably Zoho should be in the lineup, but this team/coach value that vet experience and zero event hockey above all else.

As if a team full of 35+ guys needed experienced players.

 

[Jacob]

The missed time is an issue. But with *serious* or repeated injuries there’s the secondary issue of losing something pertraining to your skillset. Like a knee injury prevents you from doing any kind of lower body workouts for many months, you lose muscle and strength and maybe even mobility or coordination, and it could also lead to lingering or chronic knee pain that you have to deal with or work around. (Though these risks are far less than they were 25-30 years ago [see Malkin, Michalek, Kovalev]) Concussions could lead to having to play a different, more apprehensive style of game. Beau Bennett’s wrist injury very obviously impacted his shot.

But like some minor LBI isn’t doing anything permanent. He was skating and practicing for most of the time he was out of the lineup. Assuming he’s back soon and depending on playoffs he’ll still play 50+ games this season, which is fine for development.

 

[Jacob]

KHL regular season is almost over. 4 games left for Cherepovets.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

KHL regular season is almost over. 4 games left for Cherepovets.

As of now, and with the NHLe calculator which was updated who-knows-when, this equates to 30 points in 82 NHL games.

I don't want to get too hyped about him, but...

 

[Jacob]

As of now, and with the NHLe calculator which was updated who-knows-when, this equates to 30 points in 82 NHL games.

I don't want to get too hyped about him, but...

Yeah, his production is comparable to 1st rounder But, and far better than Yurov’s in his post draft season, now Yurov is a PPG player and leading Magnitogorsk in scoring.

Comparable to Kaprizov at the same age, but Kaprizov led his team in scoring while Ilyin is like 6th on one of the higher scoring teams in the league. So maybe not directly comparable there.

Won’t happen but it’d be fun to get him and Yager into WB/S next season.

 

[SEALBound]

Yager scoring in a Ninja Turtles jersey. Great pass from Firkus.

Frankly I’d be embarrassed to wear that in adult league.

God I would love to figure out how to get Firkus here in addition to Yager. Those two are fire together.

Poulin is a bust at this point, he shouldn't be on any ranking. Its been nearly five years now and we've seen almost nothing from him. You can blame coaching, injuries or whatever but he has yet to be a reg here in PIT. At some point you got to give up the ghost. MAYBE he'll be a serviveable player down the road likely in another organization, but here, start the bus!

He hasn't had a super smooth AHL career but I understand this. I think we are in the "readjust expectations" aspect with him. He may top out at a bottom 6 center or wing level and, honestly, that's fine. Not every mid-late 1st is a bonafide top 6 player. I'd love for him to get some time in the NHL this year to help us assess where he should be next year.

As of now, and with the NHLe calculator which was updated who-knows-when, this equates to 30 points in 82 NHL games.

I don't want to get too hyped about him, but...

If he was 25-26, I wouldn't be too high on him. The fact he's doing it at 18 in the KHL is quite impressive. Not a lot of 18/19yos doing what he's doing. If in two years he progresses to a 40pt in 82gp at the NHL level, that's a 100% win.

The question I have for him is - does he even want to come over?

I was looking at Murashov as well and his stats are mirroring what Vasilevsky was doing at his age. Adding him and Ilyin to the mix in a couple years could really help the rebuild. Imagine adding a Rust and prime Murray...

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

God I would love to figure out how to get Firkus here in addition to Yager. Those two are fire together.

He hasn't had a super smooth AHL career but I understand this. I think we are in the "readjust expectations" aspect with him. He may top out at a bottom 6 center or wing level and, honestly, that's fine. Not every mid-late 1st is a bonafide top 6 player. I'd love for him to get some time in the NHL this year to help us assess where he should be next year.

If he was 25-26, I wouldn't be too high on him. The fact he's doing it at 18 in the KHL is quite impressive. Not a lot of 18/19yos doing what he's doing. If in two years he progresses to a 40pt in 82gp at the NHL level, that's a 100% win.

The question I have for him is - does he even want to come over?

I was looking at Murashov as well and his stats are mirroring what Vasilevsky was doing at his age. Adding him and Ilyin to the mix in a couple years could really help the rebuild. Imagine adding a Rust and prime Murray...

Those are some f***ing horrendous jerseys

 

[Ulf5]

As of now, and with the NHLe calculator which was updated who-knows-when, this equates to 30 points in 82 NHL games.

I don't want to get too hyped about him, but...

99? Trade him now!

 

[Gurglesons]

He's had two extended absences this year due to injury. He missed over a month due to an injury and has now been out a couple weeks due to another injury. Over the past two seasons, he's played 44 total professional games. That's a ton of missed development.

I'm a Poulin fan. I think he can play in the middle six in the NHL. But the lack of development time in his early 20s is beginning to be a big factor.

That would be happening regardless if he was healthy or not with this management / coaching staff.

 

[Andy99]

Ours ain’t up here…per usual lol

Cutter Gauthier, Alexander Nikishin lead Craig Button’s top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list | TSN

Cutter Gauthier was in the midst of some controversy this season, but there's nothing controversial about Craig Button ranking him at No. 1.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Randy Butternubs]

It's great to see Cutter at the top of the list though.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Ours ain’t up here…per usual lol

Cutter Gauthier, Alexander Nikishin lead Craig Button’s top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list | TSN

Cutter Gauthier was in the midst of some controversy this season, but there's nothing controversial about Craig Button ranking him at No. 1.

www.tsn.ca

Lots of 21-22 year olds on that list. After seeing what Yager did at the WJC and the way his season is going so far, I ain't really worried. Yager will be on Button's list next year!! Fantastic pick.

 

[Ryder71]

All quiet on the prospect front I guess. In the next few years it'll be the most interesting part of following this team.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I just checked eliteprospects.com, they are usually fairly reliable. Ilyin's contract in the KHL is up after 2024-25. If we could get him signed and over here at the end of next season, that would be fantastic. Malkin is under contract for '25-26, and it would be great if he could do for Ilyin what Gonchar did for him. Ilyin might need time in the AHL, but maybe not. Also, Murashov's contract ends after this season. I would definitely try to sign him and bring him to the AHL. Maybe split the minutes between Blomqvist and Murashov next season, OR maybe he splits the load with a veteran and Blomqvist takes the backup gig behind Jarry.

Encouraging signs here.

 

[Jacob]

Just bring him this summer. Call him an asylee or whatever, nobody cares.

 

[Jacob]

He’s only on an AHL deal but Joshua has been great lately. A regular PKer and on the 2nd unit PP. I’d describe him as a guy that is well aware of the game he needs to play if he has as any hope of getting to the NHL.

 

[Ryder71]

Just bring him this summer. Call him an asylee or whatever, nobody cares.

How about we sign these guys first. None of them are signed yet, Yager included.