We now stand at the start of a new year. It is a time to look with hope to the future. So I figured I would take a look at out our Pittsburgh Penguins prospects.
Centers:
Top prospect Jordy Bellerive seems to be recovered from his off season accident now. After a slow start, he is on pace with his point totals of last year but he is showing a bit more defensive responsibility. Recent 5th round draft pick Justin Almeida is continuing to provide offense for his team. And Teddy Blueger continues to make a case for himself with offense and defensive responsibility. Blueger leads the Baby Penguins in scoring and has a respectable +/-. While at Penn State hulking 6′-7″ Russian import Nikita Pavlychev is showing promise.
Wings
Anthony Angello is tied for the team lead in Wilkes Barre – Scranton (WBS) for +/-. He is also tied for second in goals with Ethan Prow only behind Blueger. Former 2nd round pick Kasper Bjorkvist is averaging a point a game in College and is a +11. Among the other Wings I have been watching Adam Johnson is scoring, checking in at 4th WBS, while Filip Hållander, the Penguins second, 2nd round pick this past draft has 12 points in 23 games. I worry a little that he may not develop that quickly. Traditionally, it takes time for European players to acclimatize to North American Hockey, unless they are the real elite. I wish he was over here playing in on this side of the pond. Although, since he is only 18, that may not be possible yet.
Since Zach Aston-Reese isn’t looking like he wants to go back to the AHL, I didn’t list him among the prospects.
Defensemen
Even though Ethan Prow has never impressed me in the few times I have seen him play, his numbers are looking pretty good down in WBS. He is tied with Anthony Angello for the team lead in +/- and tied for 2nd for Goals. There may not be the same pressure to bring him up at the moment, given the Jekyll face of the Penguins Defense showing right now, if Hyde returns Prow could push for a shot with the big boys.
Calen Addison’s name is still being thrown about. Scouts do still talk about him and I still occasionally here the odd rumor of the kid being a possible trade chip should GM Jim Rutherford want to wheel and deal at the dead-line. I am not sure that I like that idea. The team is way too thin in young players to throw him away.
Since it appears, from what I have read, that the Penguins still retain the rights to both Andrey Pedan and Lukas Bengtsson I included them here. I can’t deny I was disappointed by both their defections.
Goalies
The only Goalie prospect of any significance right now appears to be Tristan Jarry. Alex D’Orio appears to be struggling right now.
Skaters
| Name | Po | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim | (+/-) |
| Addison, Calen | D | Lethbridge | WHL | 35 | 6 | 33 | 39 | 34 | -5 |
| Almari, Niclas | D | HPK U20 | Jr A SM Liiga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Almari, Niclas | D | HPK | Liiga | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | -2 |
| Almeida, Justin | C | Moose Jaw | WHL | 30 | 11 | 38 | 49 | 4 | 8 |
| Angello, Anthony | C-R | WBS Penguins | AHL | 34 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 23 | 15 |
| Bellerive, Jordy | C | Lethbridge | WHL | 36 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 34 | 10 |
| Bengtsson, Lukas | D | Linköping HC | SHL | 26 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| Birks, Dane | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Birks, Dane | D | Wheeling Nailers | ECHL | 28 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 6 |
| Björkqvist, Kasper | W | Providence | NCAA | 18 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 8 | 11 |
| Blueger, Teddy | C | WBS Penguins | AHL | 35 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| Czuczman, Kevin | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 34 | 9 |
| Dea, Jean-Sebastien | C-R | WBS Penguins | AHL | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | -7 |
| DiPauli, Thomas | C-L | WBS Penguins | AHL | 29 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 6 |
| Drozg, Jan | W | Shawiningan | QMJHL | 30 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 24 | -17 |
| Erkamps, Macoy | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Erkamps, Macoy | D | Brampton Beast | ECHL | 21 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 21 | -1 |
| Haggery, Ryan | R | WBS Penguins | AHL | 30 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 23 | -1 |
| Hållander, Filip | F | Timrà IK Loan | SHL | 23 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | -5 |
| Hayes, Jimmy | R | WBS Penguins | AHL | 34 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | -2 |
| Johnson, Adam | C-L | WBS Penguins | AHL | 36 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 12 | -3 |
| Lafferty, Sam | F | WBS Penguins | AHL | 36 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 49 | 4 |
| Miletic, Sam | L | WBS Penguins | AHL | 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Ölund, Linus | C | WBS Penguins | AHL | 34 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Palojärvi, Antti | D | Lukko U20 | Jr A SM Liiga | 25 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | -4 |
| Palojärvi, Antti | D | Lukko U20 | Liiga | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Pavlychev, Mikita | C | Penn State | NCAA | 18 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 3 |
| Pedan, Andrey | D | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 31 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 40 | 15 |
| Phillips, Clayton | D | U of Minn | NCAA | 16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 10 | -4 |
| Prow, Ethan | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 35 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 14 | 15 |
| Reilly, William | D | RPI | NCAA | 14 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | -2 |
| Sexton, Ben | F | Belleville | AHL | 17 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 1 |
| Sexton, Ben | F | WBS Penguins | AHL | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Summers, Chris | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 26 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | -4 |
| Taylor, Jeff | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 25 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 1 |
| Trotman, Zach | D | WBS Penguins | AHL | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | -2 |
| Wilson, Garret | L | WBS Penguins | AHL | 18 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 69 | 0 |
| Wilson, Garret | L | Penguins | NHL | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Goalies
| Name | Team | League | GP | GAA | Sv% |
| D’Orio, Alex | Saint John | QMJHL | 25 | 4.46 | 0.883 |
| Jarry, Tristan | WBS Penguins | AHL | 18 | 2.85 | 0.909 |
| Jarry, Tristan | Penguins | NHL | 2 | 3.5 | 0.887 |
| Muse, Jonathan | WBS Penguins | AHL | 4 | 2 | 0.934 |
| Muse, Jonathan | Wheeling | ECHL | 10 | 2.69 | 0.903 |
Those of you who consistently read these boards have come to realize that I am not exactly shy about expressing my opinion. Furthermore, you would probably not doubt that I am a fan of bringing in some youth and not going on archaeological digs to fill in bottom 6 spots on the roster. Below I am including a watch list of players that I have mentioned in the past as having wished our Penguins would have courted or kept.
Skaters
| Name | Po | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | Pim | (+/-) |
| Hague, Nicolas | D | Chicago | AHL | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 19 |
| Hersley, Patrik | D | SKA St Petersburg | KHL | 30 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 6 | 8 |
| Kostin, Klim | F | San Antonio | AHL | 28 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 48 | -8 |
| Larsen, Philip | D | Salavat Yulaev | KHL | 44 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 14 | -1 |
| Mozik, Vojtech | D | Vityaz Podolsk | KHL | 38 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 53 | 1 |
Goalie
| Name | Team | League | GP | GAA | Sv% |
| Gustavsson, Filip | Belleville Senators | AHL | 21 | 3.47 | 0.889 |
Recently, there was an exchange reminding me that I was against the Penguins trading for Ryan Reaves. I still do not deny that I doubted that Reaves would ever get a shot to play in Pittsburgh. The interesting thing about this trade was that once here, I did become a Reaves fan. I did not wan’t to see the team trade him, but they did; thus vindicating my trepidation for the trade. When Rutherford dealt the Oskar Sundqvist and swapped the teams first round pick for Reaves ad St. Louis‘s 2nd round pick, I wanted the team to draft Nicolas Hague a 6′-6″ 214 lb Defenseman. Our own James Arthurs wanted the team to draft Klim Kostin. So, I figured while I was looking at prospects I would include these 2 players.
I included Filip Gustavsson since he was part of the Ryan Reaves – Ian Cole for Derick Brassard trade. Earlier this season, Gustavsson was struggling to adjust to North America. His Goals Against Average (GAA) was well over 4. It has since dropped to below 3.5. Despite the current run of victories and even if the team gains some measure of success the Brassard trade could prove pyrrhic.
Again, in light of the recent defensive turn around, my wish to have added Patrik Hersley, Philip Larsen, or Vojtech Mozik (1 or 2 of them) may not appear as urgent. I do hope the course the team did choose will work out, but I still think the team would have been better off, following my path.
Odds and Sods
- Note that the stats from above were taken on January 1, some players may have played since then.
- Congratulations to Ethan Prow, he was named to the AHL All Star Game.
Hello ToR,
I was hoping for the Penguins to win this game tonight. Then I came back to earth to know that the flaws , dumpster inconsistent defense and consistent things that Penguins do will come to eat them alive. I knew it. They would have some type good enough forecheck with atrocious puck management , halfway/bad clear attempts breakouts that would lead them to defend and defend.
Constantly long shifts, bad changes with dump and chase. All of sudden some type of momentum penalties and to cute with puck get them to lose the game. Easy cock mentality will kill them . Coach staff not great on clock management and simple to win to night. Blow a lead. Opponents would give them the taste of their medicine. Opponents Bearing down and converting on all nice chances to beat them.
Good enough above -average goaltending , 2 players on the one top line ,ok weak secondary scoring,ok powerplay and Solid Pk would only mask it up.(as long as it could)
I want Penguins to be successful and win a another cup this season. Rutherford needs to stop watching and waiting. Cut his losses with Brassard and Johnson.
He needs to finally why Jamie Oleskiak is getting scratched.
Malkin may not be back to his fully form to be on a solid tear to generate better offensively. He wouldn’t do that with Jack Johnson anchoring him. Crosby too.
I cannot stress this enough Penguins are top lines not great on the ice with Jack Johnson. I’m afraid Oleskiak is getting Ian Cole’s treatment. Then coach staff will realize to late that they we’re wrong to axe Oleskiak and to give jack Johnson passes after passes.
Penguins got points on a good enough fluke winning streak .
My philosophy on the Penguins The team is winning, that’s good enough,but what they’re doing is not sustainable and successful. Not great growth to another level of hockey. Special Teams and Goaltending are stealing the show, but they are still playing mediocre hockey at ES and 5v5 .
Defense Corp is weak with Johnson. Depth is weak. 3C is abysmal. Wingers are giving him the scoring chances and playmaking to a least score s goal. Riikola should be playing in AhL. He’s a bottom pairing defenseman. Jury is still out on Marcus Petterson. He seem like a bottom pairing defenseman. I still don’t understand that they couldn’t go after a younger significant Right handed defenseman.
Always stay critical to see improvements and growth on this team. It hasn’t not been sustainable. Coaching staff are really having a inability to do tweaks to sustain long enough pass through playoffs. Having better ways to put players in right position to succeed. Sullivan system has inability to counter attack opponents back when they turn on the heat, fight back with urgency and to play at the same game they are matching. It’s the same issues over and over.
Special Teams and above -average goaltending will not hiding so much .. Last treg reg& post season give you assessment to why it isn’t sustainable.
Some can can be down on Chad Rudwedel. 95% want Rudwedel to be playing and he was only terrible with Johnson. He was solid with Dumoulin..
Good signs for Shultz to start early rehabbing…
I hate be that person. I was never impressed with the winning streak.
Also DeSmith should have played against the Jets and Murray against the Blackhawks. DeSmith had trouble with them . So I don’t get it.
On to the next game…
Hello TOr,
I have seen it at practices too. I commented about it.
I hope my other comment come up today.
Good enough 8 – games streak , in my eyes. Penguins still have some significant troubles and some good enough positives. They are getting lucky breaks and bounces. Opposition they have met are just not finishing and bear down enough on them. I’m quite sure it will happen to them . It will humble them.
Mike Sullivan’s system is weak and flawed.
Rutherford suggesting Johnson will help transition game is laughable.
They have a long to go. Little tiny Turnaround
Last night:
Penguins were good on forecheck and active sticks. Quicker to take good lanes.
They are help each other on mistakes as much as possible. They help the shot down close in first period to their number.
They are defending to much in their zone. Not spending to much in offensive to wear down their defenders. Top line only does it.
Penguins did not have good puck management. Still hemmed up in their zone . Sloppy breakouts and transition game. It’s atrocious
Still to much chances and odd man rushes for teams.
Penguins didn’t get puck deep, they were making bad changes and turn the puck over to much. They are spending to much time in their ZONE. Outshot
Their were to many men penalty for the Jets. No . It was Penguins with to many men on the ice.
Everytime I see Jack Johnson on the ice he scared me and make shake my head .. He constantly take the body aggressively in his zone and leave the puck right there for another opposing player to get it and keep them in their zone. He doesn’t get puck deep before changing and it leads to pens stay there defending before getting to the offensive. Pens are constantly defending with him. He can’t transition from defensive zone and offensively ( vice versa)
I would like to see Penguins play without him for two- three games..
8-58
3-50 or 3-6
28-6 or 28-50
(Extra 73)
I can’t wait til Shultz’s return and to see who gets bumped. I would hope 73.
Unfortunately, it won’t happen. Hopefully something drastically keep Johnson out the lineup..
You were wondering who is in Sullivan’s doghouse next that doesn’t deserve it. It’s Jamie Oleskiak. I believe it have something to do with him being physical ( probably don’t like him) and Rutherford not liking Riikola not playing… etc..
Jamie Oleskiak only play last night due to the fact Jets were bigger and physical to have Him lineup. That’s bs.
I stated it before Mike Sullivan doesn’t like players to be big physical with hits / defender/ grit with skill. He doesn’t want a guy to stand up and defend teammates. Or set the tone to let them play. Blues were throwing around ZAR and Crosby. Constantly wacky slash at them . Malkin is taking big hits.
I remember Oleskiak play with that. He has confidence with that. Smooth skating, abilities to jump in the rush and defend well with long stick. He was great pairing for top lines . Sullivan is still deploying Johnson with top lines. Why?
I’m happy they are winning games and getting breaks. Great goaltending. They just are not on the next great level of hockey on all facets of the game. They needs to be better in front of goaltending and all three zones.
I hope they can keep it alive . (Winning streak)Finally beat the Blackhawks and go on to be the Panthers . Our to successful California game road trip.
No Zach Lauzon. A future Marcus Pettersson and no Jan Drozg he have 1 pt per game in the QJMHL….
Oops . Björkqvist and Beliereve. I’m constantly following them too. Penn state kid Nikita too..
Hi
Yes. Prow is going to AHL All -Star game. I’m happy for him.
Oskar is doing good on a pretty average team that having problems.
Reaves is good hockey player to have on this team. I was never against him. I just knew he would get the short end of stick from Mike Sullivan. He never got a chance. Unfortunately, Sid and Geno wanted him to stay. He wanted to stay . Sully messed that up . Same with Cole. Reaves brought something good things to this team It what it is. I’m glad he’s succeed on Vegas with Fluery..
I think Gustavsson is probably developing wrong. I wish he was developing in WB/S..
I wish A .Johnson , Angello, Blueger can get a chance up here.
Also I think going after Mozik, Hersley, Hague would be great. Other defenseman as well .( NHL)
I won’t shy away from this on the team. Penguins can still win games and cups with the removal of Kris Letang.
With the Shultz’s return. I think this the best to let Kris Letang go. He’s playing good enough to trade him. Three years left on his contract. I wouldn’t wait longer to do it. Kessel is more of a intergal part of the team, imo . I rather keep Kessel til his contract ends. Not Letang.
Teams are desperate for better defenseman. They probably give up something worth to help the Penguins. I know understand they have been try to do it for years. To move Letang. They were hesitate to do it. Rutherford should do it. Time to move on. Keep Shultz. Get two younger RHD’s . Maybe go after Pietrangelo. I guess . I don’t know. Someone else.
Go younger and make your cap space easy to have some run to get better young – speedy players ..
Hey Dee,
When the Pens 1st drafted him and even at his 1st couple camps I really liked the kid. But I think the Pens dropped the ball on him and left him in Europe too long I wish they would have brought him over sooner. For what ever reason, by the time he was traded, he really was a spare part. However, in retrospect, if Brassard doesn’t pick up his play and/or they don’t trade him in an upgrade deal (we win the deal) it really makes that Reaves deal look very, very bad (both of them).
Like you, my biggest concern when bringing in Reaves was, we would never use him, so we basically threw away picks and players. And then when we turned around and trade Cole, Reaves, and Gustavsson, it looks like we did it again, threw away players.
We should have stood pat in the off season and during the season. Brassard has not really done any better than Sundqvist is doing in St Louis
Brassard 31GP, 6G, 6A, 12Pnts, -3, 12PIM, and 0WG in 15:11 minutes per game
Sundqvist 30GP, 7G, 3A, 10Pnts, -2, 12PIM and 1WG in 11:12 minutes per game
Looking at it from a Pnts/60 Sundqvist actually wins 1.79 vs 1.53.
And then looking at Hague’s numbers had the Pens used their pick like I wanted instead of flipping that for St Louis 2nd rnd pick and Zach Lauzon who isn’t playing right now, at all.
I would understand if the Pens kept Letang. Dumoulin must be channeling Paul Martin right now because Letang is putting up good numbers, numbers that could be used to argue for him in a Cup run.
However, I understand your sentiment and would trade him now (once Schultz gets back), particularly if the team reverts to its Hyde persona and looks like a one and done play-off team rather than a real contender.
But as I said, I understand the Letang backers on this one, for now.
Hello Tor,
I understand the case for him. Little very over exaggeration.
Hockey is business.
Dumoulin is the Penguins blue line MVP. Sidney Crosby is the Penguins over elite MVP.
Kris Letang is doing better for sure. He’s doing what needed (right now) due to Shultz’s absence.
Understandable. It doesn’t change for me.
Penguins D Corp still have a lot of problems. Jekyll and Hyde games. All over the place.
He isn’t elite. ( in my book)
I’m not confidence with Letang in a Cup run. Johnson too.
I think they needs some changes on the D corps . Letang is one of the them. To much money tied up in defense. He shouldn’t be exempt nor untouchable on this team.
I wouldn’t be overly negative Nancy guy on it. I believe wholeheartedly Shultz and Dumoulin is a more valuable to the Penguins D Corp . I believe Penguins They can get it done by committee without him. Especially if they add someone like Pietrangelo or someone else younger.
I’m thinking about age, injuries, new youth and small significant retool to defense.. Wanting Penguins other defenseman to blossom without him.
I think it bad to trade someone younger/ picks/ younger prospects and keep Johnson and Letang on the D Corp..
Article: https://thehockeywriters.com/pittsburgh-penguins-kris-letang-elite/
Only time will tell. I don’t want Penguins to stay with blinders . Have woulda , coulda, shoulda left in their heads. Caught with other teams who have older defenseman they can’t move..
Also
All Penguins Defenseman.
They are still getting outplayed and outchanced but they’re getting great goaltending and their PP is back on track. I still feel like they’re defensive zone positioning /passing / breakouts is a dumpster fire. Guys chase behind the net all day. Not aware. Hemmed up in their zone. Odd man rushes and grade A chances to teams. Opponents behind and in front Penguins defenders doing whatever.
Bad turnovers and outmuscled.
Hey Dee,
I am not sure if it is all the D-mens fault but a combination of certain D-men and the D/breakout system. The problem could be trying to tease out which it is. I recall one of our regulars who was at training camp for several days said he didn’t see them practice D too much.