PenguinPoop colleague Caleb Di’Natale and I were having a text discussion last night concerning the merits of freshly signed prospect Brayden Yager. Caleb suggested we take advantage of what is in essence a nine-game tryout window to see if the 19-year-old sniper can fill Jake Guentzel’s old spot next to Sidney Crosby, reasoning that we don’t have anything to lose.
If Yager can’t cut the mustard, he can always be sent back to junior within the allotted time frame without triggering the first year of his entry-level deal.
I confess, Caleb’s idea seems like a good one. Given Sid’s marvelous playmaking skills and generalship, and Yager’s rapier-like shot and release, it could potentially be a match made in hockey heaven along the lines of the lethal Evgeni Malkin–James Neal combo from a decade before.
In particular, I remember the way Neal seemed to materialize out of thin air to pounce on one of Geno’s perfectly placed setups. From what I’ve seen of Yager, he possesses a similar stealthiness.
However, there are hitches. Barring some major line shuffling, skating next to Sid would require the right-handed shooting Yager to play on his off wing. To my knowledge, an unfamiliar position. (It should be noted Neal, a left-handed shot, also played on his off-wing, the better to have his forehand positioned between the circles.)
Yet there is a black-and-gold precedent. Back in 2006-07, second-overall pick Jordan Staal made the team out of training camp. Slotted in the unfamiliar left-wing position, “Gronk” struck for 29 goals, which 18 years later remains his career-high for a single season.
In addition to their first-round pedigree and the fact that they’re natural centers, the then 18-year-old Staal and todays Yager share another trait. Both play a remarkably solid two-way game for their respective age.
Might lightning strike twice?
There’s only one way to find out.
It also makes me wonder. Did Kyle Dubas purposefully leave an open slot or two in the Pens’ lineup for kids to step through?
The answer just might be yes.
If Yager isn’t ready? Trade deadline acquisition Vasily Ponomarev might do the honors. Although he endured a somewhat injury-riddled campaign in ’23-24, including a high-ankle sprain down the stretch, the 22-year-old center appears to have little left to prove in the AHL.
Although generally regarded as a middle-sixer, Ponomarev does possess smarts and skill. Upon reflection, the Moscovite sounds a lot like the player he’d be replacing should he earn a look next to Sid.
In hindsight, I don’t think anyone would’ve foreseen Guentzel developing the way he did. Perhaps Ponomarev will prove to be a surprise, too.
As for the rest of the young’uns? Fellow deadline pickup Ville Koivunen, long on skill but short on pace, figures to require ripening at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Perennial prospect Sam Poulin is knocking on the door following a strong if injury-plagued season with the Baby Pens (16 goals in 41 games). As much as I’d love to add a player with Sam’s brawn (6’1” 208) and ability to play in traffic, I fear a lack of foot-speed will confine him to bottom-six duty (at best) in the bigs.
Dan Kingerski on Pittsburgh Hockey Now suggests that recent second-round pick Tanner Howe may actually have the best shot at cracking the Pens’ lineup among the kids.
I confess, I really like Dan’s thinking. The 18-year-old buzz-saw plays an abrasive, high-energy game, and he’s got some speed and hands as well. Howe would give us a second winger (Michael Bunting the other) who’d provide a dash of sorely needed salt and vinegar.
Too, I’m reminded that Zach Benson, a player cut from a somewhat similar cloth and dimensions, stuck with Sabres last season as an 18-year-old and notched a respectable 11 goals and 30 points.
In closing, the fact that Dubas has left the door open a crack for kids to emerge is a notable departure from the past half-dozen years or so.
A welcome one.
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Hey Rick,
As I wrote earlier, I am not a fan of playing Yager on Crosby's Wing. Way too many potential stars get crushed under the weight of having to be the savior. Putting Yager up on Crosby's Wing could serve to severely crush his confidence. I know the pie in the sky whishing that makes Caleb wish to rush Yager on to Crosby's Wing but a super hard NOOOOO. Let Yager have a shot at 3rd line Center flanked by veteran Wingers, allowed to develop without the intensity of other teams best defenders crushing down on him.
I am also in favor of playing our young prospect in Kessel's old spot on the PP, also allowing the kid build confidence while helping the team with his shot without the un-needed fan mentality of rushing the kid into situations that could stunt his growth as a player.
However, if you and Caleb are h377 bent on risking ruin for the kid, then I suggest that you are over thinking it in wishing to flip Yager to LW. If you seriously want to take an unnecessary risk to see Crosby set Yager's shot up, then he would be far better playing his natural Wing (Right). Crosby is a left handed shot and although he has one of the best back-hands in the game, he still is far better passing to his right. Since Guentzel is a left-handed shot, their most common attack was for Crosby to cross the blue line on his natural Left Wing, then pull up along the boards, letting Guentzel drive past him on his right before passing the puck to Jake. They were so predictable in this play that Trotz picked up on it and stuffed. He even went to the media discussing why he was so successful against our Pens in 2018.
Your strategy would yield better results by flipping Rust to LW and let Yager play his Natural Wing.
As for Howe and Poulin, Kingerski does seem to have inside info, due to his propaganda post for the Penguins, I do not doubt that the team may wish to rush Howe to the top of the prospect chain. in Poulin's case, Kingerski has also noted that Poulin's stock is plummeting. However, when it comes to scouting players, Kingerski's credibility has dropped significantly for me, particularly after his championing the resigning Jarry at all costs and his continued attempts to defend that ersatz goalies defenseless performance last season. If Kingerski told me water was wet, right now I would be skeptical.
For me, when I watched Howe play, I liked what I saw, but he was a second round pick for a good reason he still needs time to develop. I liked much of what I saw, but he needs time. Hyping him only evidences a level of desperation.
It is well past time to give the kids a shot. Poulin, like so many before him is on the verge of wilting on the vine due to ineptness of our player development and pathetic allergy our Coach has had for any kids that he didn't Coach in the minors, at least among forwards.
Hey Other Rick,
I appreciate your concerns. You make a very valid point about Sid being a left-handed shot and Yager a right-handed shot and never the twain shall meet if the kid's on the portside.
Having said that, I think it's worth at least trying Yager with Sid in training camp and preseason, perhaps on right wing as you recommend. And if the duo merits it, extending the tryout to those nine regular-season games I mentioned. I hardly think that would ruin Yager's career, no matter which way things go.
I do hear ya' about not wanting to rush kids in general. You certainly don't want to put them in a position to fail for an extended period of time, especially at such a young age. However, I don't think it would hurt to give them a look if merited.
I'm reminded of the early '80s when kids like Phil Bourque, Bob Errey and Troy Loney were given early cracks at the big-time. Based on the fact that each of them bounced between the Pens and the minors for a few years, it's safe to say they failed in their early trials. But there's really no sin in that, and I like to think the hard lessons learned early on helped them develop the mental toughness and tensile strength they displayed later on as Cup winners.
In many ways, they were the heart-and-soul of those teams.
Rick
Hey Rick
I whole heartily want the kids to get a crack at the lineup, despite Sullivan's bias to banish them to WBS or lower rather than teach them. However, I would rather put them in positions to succeed. If I were to have a say, I would be giving legitimate shots to not only Yager, but Broz, Koivunen, Ponomarev, even Frasca and Howe at forward.
On D there really isn't much to look at. Considering the pathetic Sullivan friendly defensive signings of Jellomen, I would give every opportunity to Belliveau and even Pickering in training camp - barring signings or trades to dump Aho, Grzelcyk and possibly even Graves and Pettersson (yes, I want a Mulligan at LHD!)
And I wish they had signed Murashov while he was here. While we are at it, I would love to bring Pieniemi, Ilyin, and Tankov over to clean house of this years oxygen thieves.
There still is tons of time for a real GM to step up and unload the garbage on this team (starting with shipping Jarry out of town).
My first pass in training camp would have each of the top 3 lines with a true kid on it, not a pre-AARP candidate that Sullivan and his apologists call prospects, forwards nearing the end of their prime (27).
Koivunen - Crosby - Rust
Broz - Malkin - Puustenin
Bunting - Yager - Rakell
DOC - Eller - Pulijarvi
If that fails, start mixing in the other names I mentioned and go from there. This team is in need of a serious make-over. The only problem is Coach uses a fun house mirror and has no idea of what at which he is looking.