Penguins Sign Frasca and Gauthier

Today the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they signed two prospects for the 2022-23 season: Forward Jordan Frasca and Goalie Taylor Gauthier. How fortuitous of them to do this, the day after I posted my review of the teams prospects.

So, who are these two new Penguins?

Jordan Frasca

Going into this season, Shane Wright was considered the next generational talent coming up. So far this season, although Wright has been playing very well, according to Gordon Lee of Pro Hockey Rumors, some people consider Wirght to be having a disappointing season and Frasca is part of that reason. Frasca went undrafted in his draft year but the big Center is 3 points ahead of his team mate Wright in the scoring race with a Points per Game of 1.48 versus Wright’s 1.44.

My impressions

I reviewed some of Frasca’s video. I loved what I saw. He could become the young power forward the team needs. He displayed a great power move to drive the Right Wing (RW), his off Wing. On one play Frasca carried the puck on his backhand, shielding the defender with his back, before lowering his shoulder and cutting from the bottom of the Face Off Circle to drive in towards the net. Frasca then whipped a backhand shot, but the Goalie had an answer. That didn’t stop Frasca, he dug the puck free and found a teammate all alone in the slot for the goal.

I also watched Frasca chase down a loose puck, forcing his way between 2 defenders, like a 7-10 split, to beat the opponents to the prize, even though his opponents had a step and a half on him and positioning. Frasca arced back up the RW Circle looking for a trailer.

Our Penguins new Center Prospect will probably start the season with the Wilkes Barre – Scranton (WBS) Penguins.

Taylor Gauthier

According to Gavin Lee, “Gauthier, 21, has been arguably the best goaltender in the WHL this season, posting a .932 save percentage through 28 games, winning 20 of those appearances. Since joining the Portland Winterhawks partway through the year, those numbers have actually only continued to rise, with a 13-1 record and .943 save percentage following the midseason trade.”

My Impressions

Like Frasca, I found some video of Gauthier. He didn’t seem to track the puck as well as another Penguins Prospect, Joel Blomqvist, who looks very much like the way Matt Murray did when he was winning Stanley Cups.

Gauthier was quicker than Murray back to his feet, though, (my only real complaint of Murray when he was winning Cups was how slow he was getting back onto his skates). However, watching Blomqvist and the Penguins other Draft Pick last draft, Calle Clang, he was much slower back up off the ice.

Gauthier’s glove hand? I watched him flash some leather on some very sweet saves. Perhaps the best of the saves was a split across the crease to the weak side, stretching his glove all the way down to his skate to rob an opponent.

Gauthier also made several other 10 bell with his skates, snaking them out at the last second to kick the puck out of harms way. In fact, if the Penguins don’t actually get real, NHL calibre defensemen, who can clear the crease, Gauthier may be the eventual go to man. He seemed to play his best with opponents behind his defenders.

However, Gauthier will no doubt start the season in Wheeling, plying his trade for the Nailers.