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

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'm just going to suggest nobody gets too attached to what Yager is or isn't going to be after one year post draft. Poulin's first year post draft was a stonker. Rust's wasn't. There's a long road for the kid.

Yeah he’s playing on a team/PP with Matyechuck, Savoie, Firkus, and a really good OA.

Has definitely done what’s asked of him and maybe he’s the best NHLer from that bunch (certainly possible) but it’s really hard to tell just looking at stats and clips and not watching the team regularly.

Outside of him being ready for the NHL- pretty partial to him going back to the WHL and having the entire MJ team run through him, then WJC, then trade to a top WHL team. I think it’ll be good for him to have nobody to rely on in the first half. Gotta bring it every night as the clear cut “guy” and it’ll be at level he knows he can succeed at.

 

[Peat]

Yeah he’s playing on a team/PP with Matyechuck, Savoie, Firkus, and a really good OA.

Has definitely done what’s asked of him and maybe he’s the best NHLer from that bunch (certainly possible) but it’s really hard to tell just looking at stats and clips and not watching the team regularly.

Outside of him being ready for the NHL- pretty partial to him going back to the WHL and having the entire MJ team run through him, then WJC, then trade to a top WHL team. I think it’ll be good for him to have nobody to rely on in the first half. Gotta bring it every night as the clear cut “guy” and it’ll be at level he knows he can succeed at.

There's a fine line between being the guy and having everything run through them in order to give them tons of reps making decisions and plays with the puck, and being the guy with nobody around them to work with and getting into bad habits because they're not using team mates enough. Can see it both ways. Can definitely see the case that getting him used to what he can can't get away with at pro level asap will be helpful too (but potentially stunting if his reps drop).

But it's not my decision so I'm not going to worry too much either way

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

There's a fine line between being the guy and having everything run through them in order to give them tons of reps making decisions and plays with the puck, and being the guy with nobody around them to work with and getting into bad habits because they're not using team mates enough. Can see it both ways. Can definitely see the case that getting him used to what he can can't get away with at pro level asap will be helpful too (but potentially stunting if his reps drop).

But it's not my decision so I'm not going to worry too much either way

Someone else can check me on this but I believe MJ is actually a young team outside of that group that plays PP1 together. I don’t think they’re going to be god awful next year to where it stunts him for half a season.

Either way- I didn’t love the pick and he’s had a good year. Slightly higher on him now.

 

[Peat]

Someone else can check me on this but I believe MJ is actually a young team outside of that group that plays PP1 together. I don’t think they’re going to be god awful next year to where it stunts him for half a season.

Either way- I didn’t love the pick and he’s had a good year. Slightly higher on him now.

Well good to know.

And in a lot of ways I didn't know how to feel about Yager as it felt like everyone had a different take on him, and while it's great he laid down the sort of D+1 you want, I'm trying to be older and wiser and less buffeted by every small event and plenty of great D+1s end up disappointing. And it was only great. Not transformational breakout.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

And it was only great. Not transformational breakout.

Hard agree

 

[Jacob]

Firkus, Calvert, Savoie, Rysavy and Mateychuk are all aging out. That’s a lot of offense. 169 of their 297 goals. Not much in the way of 2005 or 2006 birth years to replace that offense. I think that’s why they went all-in this year.

Not sure if they have prospects waiting somewhere though. Without some additions Yager will be on an island. Probably gets traded.

 

[Pancakes]

This is how the Pens got Justin Schultz to pick one example. I'm not awake enough to think of other examples but I'm sure people will have a bunch of others. Guys getting put in the wrong spot can do a bunch of damage.

It can do damage but I don't think it would ruin a guy's career. I guess you could say in Schultz's case it did for a little while, but imo most good NHLers will eventually find their way even with shitty usage.

Like if a guy is a top six quality player but getting asked to play in the bottom six, he's still gonna score goals. If you took a young Jake and put him on the fourth line, he'd still score some goals, because he's that good.

Counterpoint: Harkins, Jansen.

Harkins would (and has been) bad anywhere he's been played. That ain't on Sully.

Or am I missing a joke here?

 

[Gumbercules]

Zam Plante's Fargo Force advanced to the USHL final tonight. Plante has 6 points in 8 playoff games, which isn't terribly impressive for a 19 year old in the USHL.

 

[Gurglesons]

Firkus, Calvert, Savoie, Rysavy and Mateychuk are all aging out. That’s a lot of offense. 169 of their 297 goals. Not much in the way of 2005 or 2006 birth years to replace that offense. I think that’s why they went all-in this year.

Not sure if they have prospects waiting somewhere though. Without some additions Yager will be on an island. Probably gets traded.

I don't see the issue with bringing Yager to the AHL.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Harkins would (and has been) bad anywhere he's been played. That ain't on Sully.

Or am I missing a joke here?

I meant more that I don't think Sully was going to take Harkins out of the line-up for anyone, regardless of how good a rookie was. So, that's the one area I can definitely see regarding coaches and younger players. You really need some very specific kinds of situations before you'll see most NHL coaches giving rookies a shot for good play-- specifically, you need injuries or pre-existing holes on the roster.

 

[The Old Master]

I meant more that I don't think Sully was going to take Harkins out of the line-up for anyone, regardless of how good a rookie was. So, that's the one area I can definitely see regarding coaches and younger players. You really need some very specific kinds of situations before you'll see most NHL coaches giving rookies a shot for good play-- specifically, you need injuries or pre-existing holes on the roster.

then again you will see most coaches playing younger players in preseason play with other top players. but with sully, he plays then with ahl fodder, or other bottom sixers.

 

[HandshakeLine]

then again you will see most coaches playing younger players in preseason play with other top players. but with sully, he plays then with ahl fodder, or other bottom sixers.

Yeah, I think that if Yager's really good, there's no way that even a coach like Sully is going to destroy him. But I do think he won't develop as quickly under a regime that prioritizes mediocre vets as it tries to avoid doing any real changes.

 

[chethejet]

Dubas and Spezza are now making the decisions as to coaches, roster fits ect. Sullivan sill be out probably after this year. He may go in a trade but that is wishful thinking.

 

[The Old Master]

Yeah, I think that if Yager's really good, there's no way that even a coach like Sully is going to destroy him. But I do think he won't develop as quickly under a regime that prioritizes mediocre vets as it tries to avoid doing any real changes.

remember nasland? he was set back by a teammate that acted like a crazy man. some kids just need protected a little till they have a chance to grow up.

 

[Jacob]

remember nasland? he was set back by a teammate that acted like a crazy man. some kids just need protected a little till they have a chance to grow up.

What was that?

 

[The Old Master]

What was that?

it was a long time ago but a player in training camp (i think) went crazy and acted like he was about to kill him and chased him around the rink. gave him the rap of being a chicken,it took him a good while to live it down.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

it was a long time ago but a player in training camp (i think) went crazy and acted like he was about to kill him and chased him around the rink. gave him the rap of being a chicken,it took him a good while to live it down.

Huh. See I didn't think Bill Guerin got here til LATER in his career.

 

[The Old Master]

Huh. See I didn't think Bill Guerin got here til LATER in his career.

nah it wasn't billy

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

nah it wasn't billy

Uh... yeah. That would be a rather massive gulf of time unaccounted for by me. Which... fair enough. But not THAT many years have slid past me lol

 

[The Old Master]

Uh... yeah. That would be a rather massive gulf of time unaccounted for by me. Which... fair enough. But not THAT many years have slid past me lol

that's pretty much my brain now.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

After seeing all of these other prospects signing ELC’s, i’m assuming Yagers will come after his teams MJ playoffs?

 

[Gurglesons]

1% chance we get 4th overall lol

 

[The Old Master]

There's a fine line between being the guy and having everything run through them in order to give them tons of reps making decisions and plays with the puck, and being the guy with nobody around them to work with and getting into bad habits because they're not using team mates enough. Can see it both ways. Can definitely see the case that getting him used to what he can can't get away with at pro level asap will be helpful too (but potentially stunting if his reps drop).

that was him in year one. he would get the puck and just take off and shoot. the coach broke him of that. so, it won't be a good thing for him to go back to.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I am bullish on Yager. Yeah, watching WHL highlights does not provide much of a canvas. That said, I love what I see.

I am a huge believer that someone like Yager, who plays the same position as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, could learn a TON just by hanging around them. We should give Yager every chance to earn a roster spot in training camp, and then give him nine more games when the regular season starts just to be absolutely sure he is NOT ready.

For this to occur, we have to trade Lars Eller. We have to give Yager, plus Poulin and Ponomarev, something to shoot for in camp. That three-way battle should be big for this organization going forward. But for me, it starts with Yager. A right-shooting center with upside. It is like having a 19-year-old Jeff Carter!

That should be the selling point to Mike Sullivan.

 

[Jacob]

Yager & MJ move on to the Finals. Against old Mike Johnston’s Winter Hawks.