Penguins Prospects October 2021

We now have 1 month in the books and our Pittsburgh Penguins are sitting at the bottom of the Metro Division with a 3 – 3 – 2 record. Considering that Sidney Crosby just got back into the lineup and Evgeni Malkin is still out for about another month or maybe more, truthfully, it could be worse. If not for the Tampa Bay Lightning still recovering from their Cup partying, playing the Chicago Blackhawks in game 3 of a 3 Games in 5 nights, and playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on the back end of a back-to-back series we could easily have no regulation wins. In my pessimism, I worried that our favorite flightless fowl would be in just that position.

So, first, thank you NHL schedulers for the schedule you gave our team.

Second, just as I was not ready to buy Playoff tickets after the 3-0-2 start, I am not ready to take the bridge now after 3 straight losses, even if 1 of the losses was a regulation loss to the New Jersey Devils on Devils’ night. There still is a lot of hockey left to play.

However, with 3 straight losses and the end of the month nigh, I thought it was time to go prospecting. I am in a mind to review our waddling waterfowl’s farm system and prospects. Let me grab my hammer, chisel, pick shovel, and miners pan and let’s look at what raw gems or gold that General Manager (GM) Ron Hextall may have buried in his organization.

The Skaters

Down on the Farm (Sounds like a good jingle for some company?)

Valtteri Puustinen (VP)

I can’t deny it; I was no fan of the GM Jim Rutherford’s selection of Valtteri Puustinen. I have gotten tired of the team stock piling sub-6’-0” tall Smurfs. However, as long-time readers may have noted, I like to keep my eye on all Penguins Prospects. However, after watching the former 7 round 2019 draft pick notch 48 Goals (G) and 94 Points (Pts) for HPK in the Finnish League Liiga, my appetite was whetted to see the kid play.

I wasn’t disappointed when he arrived this preseason. He only had 2 Assists (A) in limited Ice Time (TOI), 13:24 per game but his On-Ice statistics were off the chain; at the top or near the top in just about every category. Furthermore, his With-or-Without you (WoWY) showed both of his linemates in the Preseason; Michael Chaput and Dominik Simon needed Puustinen. With the young Finn, Chaput and Simon had very good On-Ice stats, without him, both Forwards numbers tanked. Therefore, I am not surprised by the fast start this prospect has shown with his 4 G and 4 A.

If VP keeps up this pace and gets ignored by Mike Sullivan and doesn’t get any call ups, he will be a strong candidate for the Wilkes Barre – Scranton Penguins (WBS) MVP!

Jordy Bellerive

I am sorry, Jordy Bellerive is a kid I am still pulling for. He wowed me way back when, when he earned himself a contract as camp invitee. Unfortunately, he has had a long road to recovery from his off-ice accident. He has struggled since turning pro. However, my bias has me still including him here, particularly since he has picked up 4 A in 6 games and tacked on a feisty 8 Penalty Minutes (PIM); 2-Crosschecking and 1-Roughing Penalty in those 8 minutes

Samuel Poulin

Samuel Poulin had a very lackluster camp and a slow start in WBS but he has started to heat up a bit. He is now tied for 2^nd on the team on their scoring list; 1 G, 3 A, and 8 PIM 1-Slashing Penalty among those 8 minutes.

Pierre Olivier Joseph

Like Poulin, Pierre Olivier Joseph had a lackluster training camp. His numbers still are middling in nature; 0 G, 3 A, with a +3.

Nathan Légaré

Nathan Légaré had a very strong training camp but got sent down to WBS. After getting sent down to WBS, his professional start has been rather sluggish. He only has 1 G and 2 A so far in WBS, and of his 4 PIM, they were from obstruction penalties. However, like Poulin, he appears to be finding his professional legs. His lone G so far was scored last game and was an Over Time (OT) Game Winning Goal (GWG). As most readers will note, Légaré is another player I want to see in the ‘burgh, so that GWG gives me hope.

Radim Zohorna

Radim Zohorna is another slow starter this season. He has only managed 2 G in 7 GP.

Deep in the Organization

Lukas Svejkovsky

I was surprised to see Lukas Svejkovsky get an invite to training camp, so I wasn’t surprised when we didn’t see him in the preseason. However, that little taste of the NHL seems to have ignited a fire in the 2020, 4^th round pick. He is currently tied for 3^rd in the WHL scoring race with 7 G and 12 A. He also has 10 PIM.

Raivis Ansons

Raivis Ansons the Penguins 2020 5^th round draft pick is also having a good season so far. He has 2 G and 8 A in 7 Games Played (GP). Like Svejkovsky he has 10 PIM. Another really good sign in Ansons is his +5.

Kirill Tankov

After watching some of Kirill Tankov ‘s highlights, I was hopeful of getting a chance to see him this preseason, but Hextall didn’t bring him over to the Americas. He was only a 7^th round pick but he is already 19. I would have liked to see what he could have done in North America. He is currently playing in the Russian version of the AHL – the VHL. He has 6 G in 18 GP which puts him on the same G scoring pace as last season, but he is now playing in a higher league. His +7 is also a good sign.

Clayton Phillips

Clayton Phillips piqued my interest a couple of seasons back, so I have been keeping a watchful eye on him. Phillips is currently plying his trade at Penn State University, and I have a friend who is an Alum of that school that I get to do a little leg work for me. Right now, the LD is starting the current season out strong. Yes he has 3 G, but his +7 is what interests me more.

As everyone here knows, I am no fan of the Penguins Defensive Corps. I know they could do better. If it wasn’t for a resurgence in Tristan Jarry, I fear what this team would look like.

The Goalies

Potential Call-Ups

Filip Lindberg

It is still early but I may have to give Hextall 2 thumbs up on this Gem the teams’ GM unearthed. After a strong College career posting a record of 29-10-6 with a career Goals Against Average (GAA) of 1.53 and Save Percentage (Sv%) of 0.937, Filip Lindberg took to the Penguins preseason strong, continuing his excellent play with a 0.923 GAA. Now as we see he is still riding that high with a GAA of 1.71 and Sv% of 0.942 in his first professional season while earning a 4-0-0 record thus far.

Could Lindberg be a diamond in the rough? If he continues the way he is playing, who knows?

Should Casey DeSmith be worried? Well…DeSmith is at the end of his contract. Whether the team is in the playoff hunt of already sellers at the trade deadline, maybe DeSmith could fetch the team something.

Louis Domingue

Louis Domingue has been a serious surprise. In the preseason and limited playing time he posted a 0.952 Sv% and he is continuing his strong play. Domingue could be the ace in the whole that opens up options at the trade deadline for Hextall to gamble.

Digging Deeper

Joel Blomqvist

As much of a fan of Matt Murray I was (and still am – hoping he has turned the corner), I didn’t think he was worth the money he was asking. Therefore, I was so glad that Rutherford finally listened to me (okay, so it was coincidence) that he traded Murray for the 2^nd round pick that the Penguins used to fetch Joel Blomqvist.

It is still way too early for me to crow on this one. The kid is just that a kid. At 19 Goalies are way to raw for anything other than hope.

Looking at Blomqvist last season and the beginning of this season, he seems to play better against better talent. When playing in the Finnish elite league he posted Sv% of 0.914 last season and so far this season 0.980 while struggling in the lower Mestis league (0.907 and 0.902 respectively).

Next Up

Our Penguins don’t play again until Thursday November 4^th when they take on divisional rival the Philadelphia Flyers. The extra time off should help the team regroup and end this skid.

Go Pens!