Penguins Update: How Ya’ Gonna’ Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm?

How’re gonna’ keep ‘em down on the farm? In the case of the current Penguins prospects, quite easily it seems.

Even for players of promise, the transition from Europe, college or junior hockey to the North American pro ranks can be quite an adjustment. That’s part of the reason farm systems exist. To help ease that transition and aid in a young player’s growth and development.

I’ll be honest. I had high hopes for our prospects, and along with them, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. For the first time in a while, the Baby Pens were stocked with young up-and-comers as opposed to retreads and career minor-leaguers. I thought this had the makings of an exciting young team where the kids could grow and even flourish together.

It’s early and they still may. But after 18 games of middling results at best (an 8-8-2 record, 18 points, a near-AHL low 39 goals for and 56 allowed) I confess I’m disappointed with how some of our kids are faring and the team’s performance in general. It would appear coach J. D. Forrest has his hands full…and then some.

Here’s a peek at the numbers for some of our prominent prospects at WBS. Read ‘em and weep.

Radim Zohorna, who I felt confident could fill a middle-six forward slot at the NHL level thanks to his speed, hands and imposing 6’6” frame, only recently has come to life, notching a pair of goals and five points in his last seven games.

Sam Poulin, our first-round pick in 2019, hasn’t registered a point in his past seven games despite seeing top-line duty. He has just three goals and six points in 18 games. Rumored to be close to NHL-ready, Filip Hallander’s been anything but. He, too, has three goals and three assists. Kasper Bjorkqvist? Two goals and three points to go with a minus-six. Acquired in the Matt Murray trade, Jonathan Gruden has no goals and five assists in 18 games.

Perhaps my biggest personal disappointment thus far is Nathan Legare. I confess I have high hopes for the fiery winger, who possesses a lightning release, a bomb of a shot and a goal-scorer’s nose for the net. Despite his obvious talents, Nathan, too, has been a protracted slump. The Montreal’s native pointless in his last six and a minus-six to boot.

To digress, the annals of hockey history are littered with can’t-miss prospects who missed, and by a wide margin to boot. For every Sidney Crosby there’s a Brian Lawton, for every Evgeni Malkin a Dave Chyzowski. Not every player is cut out to be an NHLer. Far more don’t make it than do.

The Pens have had their share of busts through the years. Among the most prominent, goalie Craig Hillier, who happens to hail from Sid’s hometown of Cole Harbour. Drafted 23rd overall in 1996 following a standout junior career with Ottawa, Hillier had the distinction of being one of the last goalies to favor a standup style. He spent his entire career in the minors, never posting better than a 3.94 goals against average. Robert Dome, Konstantin Koltsov and Derrick Pouliot also come to mind.

On the bright side, a few guys are performing up to expectations. Drew O’Connor, who may have already outgrown the AHL, scored at a point-per-game clip prior to his recent call up. With a goal and six points in 11 games, defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph seems to have landed on his feet following an early season demotion.

Shifty Valtteri Puustinen leads the Baby Pens in scoring and has three multiple-point games to his credit. Hard-nosed Jordy Bellerive’s been a consistent producer and may one day make the leap to the big time as a bottom-six center. An added bonus…he can actually fight, and pretty well (gasp). Rookie netminder Filip Lindberg’s had a couple of shaky outings, but overall has performed well.

At least at this early stage of their collective development, hope still abounds for our kids.