The Pittsburgh Penguins have missed the playoffs for two straight years, a first in Sidney Crosby’s career.
Their aging roster and lack of strong support for Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have slowed them down. Even adding Erik Karlsson didn’t help them reach the postseason. With limited cap space and no big free-agent signings expected, the team must rely on their recent draft picks to find a game-changer.
Brayden Yager is leading this new group of prospects. The Penguins announced that Yager will get a chance at the NHL lineup next season. He had an impressive season with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, scoring 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games, plus 27 points in 20 playoff games. As captain of his team, he played fast and skillfully alongside other NHL prospects like Jagger Firkus and Denton Mateychuk. His speed allowed him to avoid much physical play this year .
Promising Young Talent:
Yager isn’t alone; Owen Pickering is another top prospect ready for a big year. Pickering signed his entry-level contract but chose to return to the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos last season. This decision paid off as he scored a career-high 46 points in 59 games while serving as team captain again. Though he didn’t score any points in his eight AHL games last season, his size and skill make him well-prepared for pro hockey. However, breaking into Pittsburgh’s lineup might be tough due to new additions like Matt Grzelcyk and Sebastian Aho.
Fans might wonder if these young players can really turn things around for the Penguins.
Other notable prospects include wingers Tristan Broz and Ville Koivunen, along with centerman Vasili Ponomarev. Each has shown strong scoring abilities: Broz in NCAA, Koivunen in Liiga (Finland), and Ponomarev in AHL (American Hockey League). Ponomarev is closest to joining the NHL lineup after scoring two points in two NHL games with Carolina Hurricanes last year along with his 30 points in 45 AHL games. Koivunen excels at making plays through traffic without seeking contact like Ponomarev does, while Broz needs to adapt more physically.
The Penguins have only made three first-round picks since 2015 and are now feeling the impact of that scarcity. Fortunately, two of those picks—Yager and Pickering—aim for strong starts to their pro careers next season. Smart trades and late-round successes have built a solid supporting cast around them.
Can these young stars bring enough energy to help Pittsburgh return to playoffs before Crosby retires? What do you think?
