Ethan Prow – McKeen's Hockey

Pittsburgh – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:44:21 +0000

Like many long time contenders, the Pittsburgh Penguins tend to enter draft day with fewer than their regularly allotted number of picks available. 2012 was the last time they had at least seven picks at the draft. Despite this handicap, the Penguins have managed to not only continue thriving, but to thrive with a lineup that is constantly being renewed with homegrown talent.

Even more interesting is that the homegrown talents that have played key roles on the past two Stanley Cup winners were not even particularly highly regarded on draft day. In fact, a roll call of first round picks made by the Penguins since taking Jordan Staal second overall in 2006 is not very encouraging. Angelo Esposito (2007, 20th overall), Simon Despres (2009, 30th), Beau Bennett (2010, 20th), Joe Morrow (2011, 23rd), Derrick Pouliot (2012, 8th), Olli Maatta (2012 22nd), and Kasperi Kapanen (2014, 22nd). From that August group of seven, only Maatta played a direct role in either Cup. An argument could be made to include Kapanen, who was a big part of the return sent to Toronto in exchange for Phil Kessel, but for the most part, high recent picks were of little consequence to the emergent dynasty.

That is not to say that players drafted by the Penguins in that timespan were not of great value though. It is very possible that the team would have won one or zero Cups in the past two years without Bryan Rust (2010, 80th overall), Tom Kuhnhackl (2010, 110th), Scott Wilson (2011, 209th), Matt Murray (2012, 83rd), Jake Guentzel (2013, 77th). A closer look at these five players plus free agent signing Conor Sheary (UDFA, 2015) begins to reveal the secret (non-Crosby/Malkin division) of their success. The Penguins scout one subsection of the hockey world very heavily and master it. In their case, that scouting takes place at the college and pre-college levels. Rust, Wilson, Guentzel and Sheary were all collegians prior to turning pro. All four, each somewhat undersized, were undervalued at the draft due to their size and their general lack of exposure, playing in lower profile leagues (Rust and Guenztel were USHL players, Wilson played in the OJHL, and Sheary played in the New England high school ranks before going to UMass-Amherst.

Looking at the Penguins system today, two items of note stick out. First, it is an incredibly shallow system with only 33 players who even qualify under our prospect guidelines of having a birthdate no older than September 15, 1991, and having fewer than 60 NHL games, or 35 in a single season (30 and 20 respectively for netminders) under their belts. Most clubs have closer to 40, if not more.

The second noteworthy item concerning the Penguins system is that it slants very heavily toward NCAA experience. Of the 33 official prospects in the system, fully 20 of them were, are or will be in college. Compare to seven who were acquired out of Europe, five out of the three CHL leagues, and one who signed as a professional free agent. The Penguins have long understood that the best value to be had in the middle and latter stages of the draft is those late bloomers who are on the collegiate path. This understanding has played a sizeable role in two parades.

Daniel Sprong

1 Daniel Sprong – In spite of the conclusions drawn above, the one truly dynamic prospect in this system was drafted out of the QMJHL. With the possible exception of 2017 1st overall pick Nico Hischier, Sprong may have been the most talented player in the Quebec league over the past two seasons. His shot is near elite, he has great speed and his play off the puck has made tangible strides since being drafted. Had the Penguins not decided to bulk up the bottom six, he would be favored to break through now.

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA - APRIL 24: Sweden's Filip Gustavsson, 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)

2 Filip Gustavsson – Technically strong and a very mature reader of the play, Gustavsson, the Penguins top pick in the 2016 draft, made tangible strides in his game in 2016-17. After switching from a 75/25 split in his games between the Swedish junior ranks and the SHL respectively to the reverse, his numbers in both circuits went up. He also featured as the backup for the Swedish WJC squad. Although signed to an ELC, Gustavsson will continue to play in Sweden for at least one more year.

3 Zach Aston-Reese – After signing Hobey Baker Award candidate Ethan Prow (more on him later) as an undrafted free agent last year, the Penguins signed Hobey finalist Zach Aston-Reese this year, with even higher expectations. Never a big scorer in his USHL days, Aston-Reese exploded in his junior year at Northeastern and kept on rising in his senior season. He has a hard shot and plus puck skills, which combined to see Aston-Reese end the year tied for the NCAA scoring lead. His time in the AHL may be brief.

4 Tristan Jarry – In addition to two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray starting in Pittsburgh, two time WHL champion and one time Memorial Cup winner Tristan Jarry is waiting in the AHL to be the backup. He is a very athletic goalie with strong ability to read to read the play. His game took big strides in the AHL this year, exhibiting more calmness between the pipes without harming his solid movements.

5 Dominik Simon – Drafted as a double overager out of the Czech league, Simon immediately came over the AHL and proved to be a near elite scorer in the North American minor pro league with 94 points across his first two seasons. He is an above-average finisher who also grades out well for his skating and his puck skills. Like Sprong, Simon’s short-term prospects may have been hurt by Pittsburgh’s move to added bulk.

6 Josh Archibald – Another victim of the Ryan Reaves revolution, Archibald is nonetheless clearly part of the Penguins future plans as the organization awarded him a two year contract extension this offseason. More of a high IQ two-way winger than a scoring threat, his best tool is clearly his speed, which he brings in spades. Although his AHL production has improved, he will never be a big scorer at the NHL level, but can provide help to an energy line and a PK unit.

7 Zachary Lauzon – The Penguins top pick this year, Zachary Lauzon shows promising ability in his own zone and plays a somewhat heavy game, but lacks the skillset that has made his brother Jeremy a prospect of note in the Boston system. It is not that he lacks for skills, and he does demonstrate confidence when playing the puck, but it is hard to see him ever being relied upon for offensive support.

8 Kasper Bjorkqvist – A great scorer in the Finnish junior leagues, Bjorkqvist was not able to dominate play quite as easily at the NCAA level with Providence. Part of his freshman struggles may have been due to injury, which limited him to 30 games with the Friars. He still flashed a strong snap shot with a tricky release and the occasional fancy dangle. Also has some nascent physicality to his game. It is fair to expect more as a sophomore.

9 Niclas Almari – A smart and mobile defender with great vision, Almari made solid strides in the offensive components of his game this year, his first playing among men. Splitting the season between the two top Finnish leagues, Miiga and Mestis, he plays a mature game. What he lacks in flash, he makes up for in execution and competence. He will not be a threat as a goal scorer, but can provide assistance in keeping the puck moving in the right direction.

10 Anthony Angello – A 6-5” project, Angello had a disappointing sophomore season with Cornell, scoring less and taking too many penalties, but still flashes the occasional ability to take over a shift that suggest that with more consistency of effort, he could find himself much higher on this list in future seasons. He skates well for his size and has a good shot and solid puckhandling skills.

11 Jeff Taylor – After a strong two-way career with one-time NCAA champion Union College, defenseman Jeff Taylor is finally turning pro. Although not flashy, he has come within spitting distance of one point per game in two of his four college campaigns, all the while competing well on defense with poise and a good stick. The Penguins have five NHL blueliner locked up for at least three more years each, but Taylor is a strong in-house candidate to compete for that sixth slot.

12 Frederik Tiffels – Drafted after a strong freshman season at Western Michigan, Tiffels was unfortunately never able to improve upon those numbers. Despite that mild disappointment, the German national moves very well, accelerating strongly and shows a willingness to crash and bang along the boards and behind the net. He also flashes occasional fancy stickwork. He turned pro this summer.

13 Connor Hall – A decent skater when he is healthy enough to take the ice, Hall’s development has been hampered greatly by injuries thus far. After playing only 39 games for the Kitchener Rangers in his draft year, he was limited to a mere 17 games this year. Solid in his own zone, he has yet to show that he will be able to produce much in the way of offense, even when healthy. He is expected to be recovered from his mid-year shoulder surgery for the start of next season.

14 Clayton Phillips – A plus puck player who can handle himself in his own zone despite middling size. Phillips shows best when transitioning the puck out of his own zone. He is patient on the puck, calm and makes precise passes. He has a high panic threshold, which helps minimize his size deficiency. Although not a big point producer, there is plenty of value in having a mobile defenseman who can clear the zone.

15 Teddy Blueger – Drafted out of the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school in 2012, Latvian Blueger spent a full four seasons at Minnesota State-Mankato before turning pro last year. He showed a promising, if limited, two-way game as a rookie AHLer last year. He was trusted to kill penalties and has good hands, useful for both faceoffs and playmaking.

16 Adam Johnson – Around two months after signing Zach Aston-Reese as an NCAA free agent, the Penguins bought Johnson away from his last two years at Minnesota-Duluth after a very good sophomore season that ended in an NCAA title game and then an eye opening rookie camp. The former USHL scoring champ was often the first player to get things going offensively for the Bulldogs. An average at best skater, his plus offensive instincts allow his entire game to play up.

17 Ethan Prow – A powerhouse offensive defenseman at St. Cloud State, Prow signed as a free agent with the Penguins last year but struggled to recreate much offensive impact as a rookie with Wilkes-Barre Scranton. He can skate well and plays physically against mid-sized and smaller players, but the pace of the pro game seemed to set him back. Already 24 years old, this year is a critical one for him.

18 Linus Olund – A double overaged draft pick out of Sweden, Olund improved from one point in 23 games for Brynas in 2015-16 to 15 points in 39 games this year. He is good on his feet, with an above average shot and good hockey sense. On the downside, he avoids physical play. He is expected to return to Brynas for a third season this year.

19 Jean-Sebastien Dea – A solid skater who forechecks and can provide secondary offense at the AHL level, Dea’s game has seemingly plateaued in the last year. He could likely perform passably in a fourth line, energy role, although it is more and more unlikely that it happens in Pittsburgh.

20 Thomas Di Pauli – A plus skater with good puck skills and a decent shot, Di Pauli signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent last summer after not signing with Washington, who had originally drafted him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. He improved year over year at Notre Dame, but his rookie pro season was a washout, as injuries limited him to 21 largely ineffective games.

A system as shallow as Pittsburgh’s is hard enough to write about as is, but the fact that they traded away their first round pick – as well as another forward in Oskar Sundqvist who would have slotted in their top ten, in exchange for one of the last goons in the game in Ryan Reaves, makes it even harder. They have done a great job of scavenging late bloomer and underappreciated talent from the NCAA ranks in recent years, but there is no guarantee that that strategy can continue to succeed at similar rates.

NHL Prospect Watch: Metropolitan Lights

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 17:13:05 +0000

As I sit in Notre Dame’s beautiful Compton Family Ice Complex, watching the Fighting Irish take on the Providence Friars, I am reminded of the annual rush for NHL teams to sign the best of the NCAA world’s undrafted free agents. Last year, in this very arena, I watched Jimmy Vesey stake an early claim to the Hobey Baker Award as well as an NHL deal with the New York Rangers. There don’t look to be many highly sought-after players this year from either of these two teams, unless undersized Irish blueliner Jordan Gross leaves school early, but I am reminded of another of last year’s UFA class. One of the finalists behind Vesey for college hockey’s highest honor was St. Cloud State offensive defenseman Ethan Prow (Pittsburgh, UFA, 2016 – D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)).

Not the most stand-out player on the Baby Pens as a rookie professional, Prow is at least proving he belongs, which not every NCAA grad can, whether drafted into affiliated hockey, or brought in as a free agent. Prow’s appeal to NHL teams was his smoothness. He brought a nice combination of skating, puck skills and sound hockey sense to the ice. His shot was somewhat lackluster and his physical game was negligible. I can safely report that Prow has learned how to bring those same attributes to the ice in the AHL. He can skate well for this level and plays the puck calmly and efficiently. He is still comfortable carrying the puck from his own zone into the offensive end. He is not the primary offensive weapon for WBS, but he is seeing some time on the penalty kill, hinting that development of his off-puck game has been a critical element of his first year in the system.

In addition to bringing the same attributes that earned him the praise of scouts with the Huskies, Prow has added a small physical edge to his game. He has not grown, per se, listed at 6-0”, 185, but he knows when smaller players are on the ice. He will not hesitate to take on those smaller players and show them who is bigger. He will use his body against other average sized players as well, but not as aggressively. When it comes to crease battles, he is still mostly ineffectual. In summary, his physical game has gone from negligible to relatively insignificant. Baby steps. Not to worry, though. He wasn’t signed to bring brawn to the Penguins blueline. He was signed as a puckmover with offensive instincts and so far, so good.

22 September 2015: New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Graves (58) warms up before an NHL preseason game

Ryan Graves (New York Rangers, 4/110, 2013 – D, Hartford (AHL))

A few weeks ago, in this space, we discussed Arizona’s towering blueline prospect Kyle Wood. The conclusion there (not that there really is a conclusion when discussing prospects. Only expected conclusions yet to be determined.) was that Wood had everything necessary to be a strong defender in the NHL other than skating prowess. So here, in the Rangers system, we have Graves, a defender cut from much the same cloth.

Now Graves did not have nearly the same offensive impact in his first year in AHL Hartford as Wood is having now with Tucson. But he was impressive. He is massive (6-4”, 220), plays a smart game and has a gigantic slapshot. I am talking mask-cracking. He had decent offensive totals as a rookie, but not enough to pave a path to Broadway. Now, almost as important as the inherent traits a player brings to his game in the ice, I look for improvement. It will almost never be linear, but it must be present. Graves is showing that. Last year, he put up 21 points in 74 games for the Wolf Pack. He has 22 in his first 49 this year.

Graves is still not a great skater, but plays a style of game that is suitable for relatively slower blueliners. He relies on a quicker partner to blaze a trail and then he comes up in support. In his own zone, he sticks to a smaller zone for coverage. He actually can get up to a good top speed if he has a long race, but the acceleration is not there for him to be relied upon as a puck carrier most of the time. As such, he will be forced to chip the puck off the glass when a clean outlet pass is not available to him as he will struggle to clear a packed defensive zone on his feet. His trailing tendency also comes to the fore on offense, where he can join the rush from behind and take advantage of drop passes to endanger the life and limbs of opponents. Still only 21 years of age, Graves has time yet to make his mark. His skating, while a hindrance, is not at the level of deal breaking. He is simply a player in search (in need) of a specific role to play. The rest of his game is present enough for him to find it eventually.

Andrew Peeke (Columbus, 2/34, 2016 – D, Notre Dame (Hockey East))

Sticking to the blueline for now, in Andrew Peeke, the Blue Jackets have drafted a potential shut down defender. Listed at 6-3”, 210, the Florida native plays a very heavy game. When he lines an opponent up for a hit, that opponent will be going down. These are not the explosive, highlight-reel open ice jobs, but more subtle pancakes.

Drafted in the second round last summer out of the USHL’s Green Bay program, Peeke has been enjoying a strong freshman year with the Irish, even contributing a slightly surprising amount of offense, with 13 points through 31 games. He is not used much for his puck skills, playing often with a more seasoned and naturally talented offensive blueliner in Jordan Gross, but he can contribute when the opportunity arises. For example, although he isn’t much for pinching, he can step nicely into a shot. Standing by the blueline, whether he lets off a wrister or a slapshot, they have impressive heft and velocity and can be trouble for defenses.

His specialty is in his own end, however. Even without hitting opponents, Peeke makes his presence felt. He keeps decent gaps – although I would like to see him use his stick more aggressively – and he is well-schooled at clogging lanes, getting in the way of countless passes and shots. He still needs at least two more years in South Bend, where ideally his offensive game will have a chance to develop, but there is a lot to like with Peeke.

Joshua Ho-Sang (New York Islanders, 1/28, 2014 – RW, Bridgeport (AHL))

In his first year in the professional ranks, former first rounder Joshua Ho-Sang is no stranger to controversy, much of it at least partially of his own making. The young Sound Tiger has long held a reputation from playing by his own rules, which referred to both his mind-boggling creativity on the ice, as well as his all too frequent disciplinary concerns off of it. The Islanders famously got a taste of the latter when he slept in on one of his first days at rookie camp in the summer of 2015 and was immediately cut from camp.

After a slow start to his rookie pro season, Ho-Sang is letting the Isles organization in on his on-ice wizardry as well. As I write these words, Ho-Sang has just put up seven points in his two games this weekend, bringing his season totals to a respectable 32 in 44 games. As with his time in junior hockey, Ho-Sang is earing most of his points through playmaking instead of finishing. He is a very aggressive player. Between his creativity with the puck and his high end speed, he can be absolutely electrifying to watch. On the downside to this on-ice powers is a tendency to take too many risks. There is a fine line to be drawn between confidence and over-confidence and Ho-Sang flits back and forth across that line.

While he should definitely spend the rest of this season in the AHL with Bridgeport, Ho-Sang is the type of player who could certainly benefit from the change in coaches in Brooklyn. Current interim head coach Doug Weight represents the best case scenario for what Ho-Sang’s NHL career could look like. It requires some taming and a lot of patience, but if his recent play is any indication, he is now on the right path.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 06: Philadelphia Flyers Winger Taylor Leier (58) looks for a pass December 06, 2016, (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire)

Taylor Leier (Philadelphia Flyers, 4/117, 2012 – LW, Lehigh Valley (AHL))

While the ethos of the Broad Street Bullies is obsolete, it may be fair to say that work ethic is a close relative. That is why, even though all of the brightest lights of the Flyers system (especially with Konency in the NHL) are blueliners, I will use this space this week to write about Taylor Leier, a tireless winger who is most known for his work in his own zone. The one-time (surprise) member of a Team Canada entry at the WJC, Leier is a power forward in a small forward’s body.

He is aggressive in all three zones, and effective in each. Now in his third year in the AHL, with NHL stints in the last two of those, Leier is starting to gain in confidence and impact in the offensive end. From 31 points in 73 games as a rookie, he improved to 49 points in 71 games last year. This year, he has 28 points in 34 AHL games, a pace that would have led to 57-58 points in 70 games, had he not had a 10 game trial with the Flyers in December.

In spite of the slow and steady increase in his offensive production, Leier is what he is. A reasonable bottom six energy line winger who can produce a modicum of offense. Beyond his utility in defensive situations, including heavy usage on the PK, he shows good offensive zone vision and some playmaking touch. With left wingers Chris VandeVelde and Pierre Edouard Bellamare both slated for unrestricted free agency after this season, Leier has earned an opportunity to stake his claim to a full time NHL role.

Blake Coleman (New Jersey Devils, 3/75, 2011 – C, Albany (AHL))

For an uninspiring system, it is only fair that we talk about an uninspiring prospect. Coleman’s name has been bandied about for a long time by Devils’ fans, but this is really his first full year of professional action, at age 25. The former third round pick out of Plano, Texas took his full four years at Miami before turning pro, only to miss all but 14 games as rookie due to injury. 33 points in 46 games this year has been impressive enough that he earned his first NHL call-up, a five game stretch in mid-January.

The Texan (hockey writers only get so many chances to call players “The Texan”) is a tad undersized, but plays a feisty game. What he lacks in strength (which also manifests itself in a subpar shot), he makes up for in energy and aggression. He is often used the primary forechecker, applying pressure on opponents across 200 feet of ice. That said, unlike Leier above, Coleman does not play as a miniature power forward. He is more aptly referred to as a pest. He does have some offensively redeeming qualities as well. His AHL scoring exploits are largely the product of a good pair of mitts. He can maintain possession of the puck under pressure and can help his teammates make plays.

Coleman is a late bloomer. In another system, he would probably be completely under the radar. In a thin Devils’ system, he sticks out. The Albany Devils are one of the better teams in the North Division of the AHL, but the majority of their contributors (outside of the netminders) are either not prospects at all, or lesser prospects than Coleman. If the Devils decide to sell off pieces before the deadline, Coleman should get more NHL experience before the season is out.

Chandler Stephenson (Washington Capitals, 3/77, 2012 – C, Hershey (AHL))

In preparing for this article, I did not set out intending to find smallish forwards with low upside, but safe, dependable and energetic games. It just sort of worked out that way. The AHL rarely has young players with cathedral ceilings for too long. They either get called up right away (if they aren’t placed in the NHL right out of amateur hockey), or they have very notable flaws, like Joshua Ho-Sang, profiled above.

Stephenson is either a strange case, or a sign of my own growth as a player evaluator. Perhaps both. His numbers between this year and last are practically identical, yet I see different, far more attractive player. Last season, I saw a defensive forward who did nothing especially well and profiled as an up-and-down guy. He had 28 points in 46 regular season games with Hershey and nothing in a nine game trial with the Capitals. In the AHL postseason, he added six points in 17 games. This year is more of the same in the points department. He has 30 points in 49 games for the Bears in addition to three games, no points, in the NHL.

So what has changed? I see now that he is not only a defensively responsible forward, but one that constantly makes smart, understated decisions on the ice. He is the type of player that has announcers gushing about “the little things”. Whether it is knowing when to get rid of the puck, or to hold on to it for another half second to prevent a quick break by the opponent or allow a teammate to shake free on the far side. Also, like the cheesy 80s movie where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and the protagonist suddenly realizes that she is pretty, the shackles have been taken off, or I was blinded by the defensiveness, but Stephenson can skate. I mean, he can fly out there. A smart player with hot wheels will always get chances in the NHL. If the Capitals decide not to bring back Daniel Winnik next year, Stephenson should be ready to compete for that spot.

David Cotton (Carolina Hurricanes, 6/169, 2015 – C, Boston College (Hockey East))

Another Texan! Drafted out of a Boston area prep school Cotton was essentially a project pick. Huge with some puck skill, but prep players are notoriously difficult to project due to the uneven (being kind) level of competition in the high school ranks. Cotton spent the following year with Waterloo of the USHL and I was not impressed over a few viewings. Despite being one of the bigger players on the ice, he had a relatively low impact for the Black Hawks, with only 30 points in 48 games and only two assist over nine playoffs contests.

So I was a little bit surprised by how well he came out of the games as a freshman for Boston College, scoring at a higher rate against better competition. Perhaps he just missed Massachusetts? Reviewing my notes from last year, I don’t think I missed anything from Cotton. He was a rough skater and rarely drove play. What is different this year is that he is now in a position where what he can do is able to be utilized. The big Texan has really good hands, softer that you might expect just looking at him, and can make skill plays with the puck, whether that is stickhandling through traffic or receiving difficult passes and turning those into scoring opportunities in a blink. Away from the puck, he is also making use of what he has, using his large frame to clog lanes or tie up (and take down) opponents.

I am not ready to say that this project has paid off. For one thing, I want to see that his skating has truly improved. He is still only a freshman and will need at least two more full seasons with BC to have a good idea of the type of player he will become, but I am ready to say that I was too low on him next year. No longer an afterthought, Cotton is now one to watch in the Hurricanes’ system.

NHL Prospect Watch: Pittsburgh Penguins

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 03 May 2016 13:22:48 +0000

Any look at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ system must first reconcile to the fact that the team began the season with one highly touted prospect who surprisingly made the opening game roster and another highly touted prospect who surprisingly did not.

The surprise inclusion was Daniel Sprong, an 18-year old Dutch winger who had been the team’s highest selected player in the 2015 draft. Sprong lasted 31 games with Pittsburgh before being (wisely) sent back to his CHL team in Charlottetown. 13 of those 31 games were spent inactive, only one of which was not as a healthy scratch. In the other 18 games, he had over 10 minutes of ice time only once. He scored twice on 23 shots. He was also dreadful at the possession game, with a relative Corsi of -5%, despite receiving favorable shift starts.

On the other hand, he had Derrick Pouliot, once upon an eighth overall pick, a pick which the Penguins parted with Jordan Staal to acquire. Pouliot had made his professional debut in 2014-15, splitting the season between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Adding fuel to the fire of expectations for Pouliot was that the Penguins head coach was Mike Johnston, who had also coached the 21-year old in Portland of the WHL. Nonetheless, and despite faring well in advanced possession metrics in the NHL as a rookie, Pouliot started the season back in the AHL. Judging purely by the statistics, Pouliot was no better in his second AHL go-round than in his first (from 24 points in 31 games in 2014-15 to 23 points in 37 points this year), he was finally recalled in mid-January and spent the remainder of the season with the Penguins, albeit for large stretches (especially in the final month of the season) in the press box. He has yet to suit up in a postseason game.

Sprong maintains his prospect eligibility, while Pouliot, who now has 56 NHL games under his belt, does not. This article is not about them. Nor is it about the unheralded prospects who were called up to Pittsburgh around the mid-point of the season and gave the Penguins scoring depth the likes of which they did not have since their back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup finals last decade. Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust and Tom Kuhnhackl (and to a lesser extent, Scott Wilson) all showed true NHL tools, and served as a reminder to the punditry that there is far more to every organization’s pipeline than the big names. The four have combined for 42 points in 151 games, respectable totals for depth line players, and most notably, at a fraction of the cap hit of the types of players who used to populate the back half of the Penguins’ roster.

The biggest impacts will often be made by those who fit available roles. It is nice when those roles are sized right to fit the studs, but that is not always the case. While the Penguins’ system is not exactly deep, there are still a number of prospect-eligible players who could find roles to suit their respective skill sets in the near future.

Matt Murray, G, Pittsburgh Penguins (83^rd overall, 2012)

Perhaps Murray’s inclusion is cheating a bit, but he only appeared in 13 regular season games, so he fits. If you had watched the second half of the Penguins-Rangers series, or the first game between Pittsburgh and Washington in the second round, you should already know a little bit about the 21-year old netminder. Probably not enough, though. Without exception, Murray is the best rated goaltender I have scouted this year. Combining quickness, athleticism and size, he simply stops pucks. Only one goalie in the AHL who played even 25 games had a save percentage better than Murray’s .931. That stupendous mark is actually a big step down from his league-leading rookie save percentage of .941, a total helped along by a record setting shutout streak of 304 minutes and 11 seconds.

Murray anticipates the play very well and is quick to telescope outwards to challenge the shooter. His movements are both crisp and controlled, which helps him to avoid long recovery times. Both his glove hand and legs move very quickly allowing him to trust his reactions. The former third rounder does not get rattled after surrendering the rare goals and fights through screens well, most likely assisted by his lanky 6-4” frame. His quick legs also allow him to remain tall in his crease. Murray handles rebounds nicely as well, either deadening the puck on impact, or ushering it into safe spaces. If there is any one area where he is not above average, it is in puck handling. Not that he’s bad at it, mind you, but I wouldn’t expect any long bombs to center ice to hit a streaking winger. He can put the puck at rest for one of his blueliners, or try to fling it up the boards and out but it isn’t fancy. In Matt Murray, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a special goalie who will eventually give the team pause regarding the long term future of incumbent starter – and former Stanley Cup champion – Marc Andre Fleury. With the potential of an expansion draft looming, a blockbuster trade involving one of them as soon as this summer should not shock.

Dominik Simon, C, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) (137^thoverall, 2015)

Drafted last summer shortly before his 21^st birthday, Simon had risen to prominence after a strong season in the top Czech league, followed by a solid showing for the Czech Republic in the World Championships. Simon moved to North America right away and finished fourth in scoring for the Baby Penguins, with a team leading 25 goals, in his first season on this side of the Atlantic. A three game call up to Pittsburgh in mid-March was earned.

Looking solely at Simon through his collection will leave one underwhelmed and wondering why I would bother wasting so much digital ink on him. His skating is OK, but nothing special. He has a decent shot, getting solid whip on his wrister when he keeps his hands high and close together. He is a little bit undersized, standing under 6-0” tall with a listed weight under 180 pounds. And yet if the Baby Pens have the puck during a Simon shift, it is more than likely that it is on Dominik’s stick. He is patient with the puck, and will not be pressed into getting rid of it before he is ready to. Simon is a clever stickhandler and creative passer, not needing too much space to find an open teammate. To his credit, Simon maintains utility when the opponents are in possession as well, and plays an active role in his own zone, sticking with his assignment and looking to break up plays and jumpstart the transition back to offense. Although he lacks the size typically associated with the bottom six, he plays with a lot of energy and the Penguins have already demonstrated that size is not their main concern, as of the four rookies mentioned above, only Kuhnhackl would not be considered undersized by common NHL standards. Simon should compete for a roster spot next pre-season and will definitely appear in more than three NHL games in 2016-17.

Jake Guentzel, LW, University Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) (77^th overall, 2013)

Like Simon, Guentzel is another undersized forward (5-10”, 168) who is unremarkable on his skates, but just produces. A top-20 point-producer as a junior for Nebraska-Omaha, Guentzel signed an amateur try-out with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his collegiate season ended. Considering his scoring exploits in college and his brief time as a pro, as well as the fact that he had another year of collegiate eligibility remaining, tells me that he will get an ELC in short order, but was held back by non-hockey related reasons.

Not just undersized, Guentzel lacks in muscle and can be neutralized. Thankfully, he doesn’t stand still for long enough to be easily caught. The former third rounder is the type of play who simply knows how to make offense happen. His shot and puck skills are both OK but what sets him apart is his vision. He can score goals through positioning and instincts, but as a playmaker he is high level. He finds seams in coverage in the offensive zone and first makes himself available to accept a pass and then (seemingly before he even gets the puck) finds a way to keep the chain moving by picking out a teammate who is better positioned. Despite his size handicap, Guentzel will play in the dirty areas and does a lot of his best work in the slot where his shot is still strong enough to be effective. He shows no hesitation in following his shot to the net, looking for rebounds. The son of a former New York Rangers draft pick and long-time University of Minnesota assistant coach, Mike Guentzel, Jake remains engaged in his own zone, trying to fore mistakes by the opponents. The former USHL rookie of the year needs at least a full year of develop in the AHL, both to get used to the paucity of open ice that he feasted on in college as well as to work on his strength, to help compensate for that loss of space. Then again, he has gotten off to a great start, with 13 points in his first 14 (regular season plus playoff) AHL games. His upside is higher than that of Simon, but Guentzel has farther to go to reach it.

Ethan Prow, D, St. Cloud State (NCAA) (UDFA, signed Mar. 29, 2016)

One of the newest members of the Penguins organization, the slight of stature (how many times can I call a prospect undersized?) blueliner was on the short list for the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player this year, his senior season with the St. Cloud State Huskies. With 38 points in 37 games, Prow was the leading scorer among all NCAA blueliners, narrowly edging out the highly heralded Zach Werenski.

As you might have guessed, Prow is primarily an offensive defenseman. He is a natural quarterback, who has above average vision and excels at identifying opportunities to jump into the rush. He is comfortable at carrying the puck whether leaving his own zone or entering enemy territory – or both. When appropriate, he will also make a pass to a better positioned teammate to carry the load. The Minnesotan is an above average skater as well. As with nearly any undrafted player, there are, of course, warts to Prow’s profile. He is better with the puck than without. While not a pushover in his own zone, NCAA opponents have not shown any hesitation in trying to push their zone entries towards Prow’s side of the ice. He will need to be paired with a strong and reliable partner as a professional so as not to be exploited. While there is still room for power play specialists in the NHL, Prow has bust potential in that he will need to prove that he will not be a liability in his own zone. If he can get to at least passable in that regards – a task which may take closer to two years in the AHL than one – he has the puck skills and skating ability to carve out an NHL career.

Lukas Bengtsson, D, Frolunda (SHL) (UDFA, signed Apr. 27, 2016)

After inking Prow, the Penguins continued to strengthen their blueline depth by signing Swedish defender Lukas Bengtsson, lately of Frolunda, to an ELC. Yet another small, offensively minded prospect, Bengtsson more than held his own in his first season in the top league in Sweden after two solid years in the Allsvenskan (Swedish second league) with Mora. A one-time representative for Sweden at the World Juniors, Bengtsson is more known for his offensive prowess than his own zone play.

Swedish Hockey Prospectus contributor Jimmy Hamrin has called Bengtsson mobile and skilled and gave his best-case outcome for the youngster a John Klingberg career path. If you will recall, Klingberg was very much a sleeper until he turned 21, also with Frolunda. A late-bloomer, Bengtsson missed close to half of this season due to injury, but was fantastic after returning, especially in the SHL playoffs. Calm with the puck under pressure, he has a good first pass and a plus point shot. He will be tested by the physical game (he is not as big as Klingberg) but the Penguins seem to have found themselves a real sleeper in Bengtsson.

Josh Archibald, RW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) (174^thoverall, 2011)

A one-time teammate of Guentzel’s at Nebraska-Omaha, Josh Archibald is another slight player who is among the ranks of potential bottom six contributors in the Pittsburgh ranks. What differentiates Archibald from his peers though is his speed. Straight ahead, Archibald is a special skater with top line acceleration. He is the type of player that can be utilized for a tactic stressing long, chase passes, much like former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma loved to employ. He also can endear himself to coaches through the zeal which he brings to board play. While small, he completes checks with gusto. Archibald received his first NHL callup this year, a single late-season game, but more AHL time is in his future, as his offensive production over his first two seasons has been pretty dismal. The native of Regina, Saskatchewan has one year remaining on his ELC, so 2016-17 is very much a make-or-break year for him.

Anthony Angello, C, Cornell (NCAA) (145^th overall, 2014)

Finally, at long last, we have a Penguins non-goalie prospect who is not undersized. Tall and lanky, Angello, turned some heads in his freshman season with Cornell, ending it with 24 points in 34 games, finishing second in team scoring. The closest thing to a sleeper in the system, Angello has very good skating for his size (6-4”, 196), taking big strides that chew up the ice. A natural center, he is a power forward and is active in all three zones. An undisciplined player with Omaha in the USHL, he also drastically cut his penalty minutes, another sign of growth and the ability to slow the game down. If he can take another step forward in 2016-17 like he did this past year, expect his stay in upstate New York to be short.