During the season ending presser, GM Kyle Dubas spoke extensively about the team getting younger. He also spoke about the team acquiring someone of elite talent in the mid 20s age range. For the latter, we have spoken about a few players who fit that category (i.e. Jason Robertson). The Pittsburgh Penguins prospects developing in Wilkes-Barre are making it harder and harder for Dubas to look anywhere else.
The Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins are making their first trip to the AHL Semifinals since 2014. Unlike that roster, this year’s “baby Pens” are loaded with prospects look primed to jump to the NHL. the 2014 team did receive help from a young defenseman who would be quite pivotal in Dumoulin and Connor Sheary was playing in Wilkes too. Cup of coffee guys Zach Sill, Brian Gibbons, and Bobby Farnham were present as well. Matt Murray was the backup goalie for the playoffs in 2014 for Wilkes Barre. Still, the team was not loaded with players who were ever meant to make an impact at the NHL level. In 2014, that was by design because the parent club was in the middle of their window with a prime Crosby/Malkin.
Today, things are quite different. Dubas himself said the AHL playoffs will have a gigantic impact on who will be in contention for a roster spot come training camp in September. Well, the bulk of the Penguins prospects must have heard that comment and responded appropriately. Every single young gun looking to become an NHL mainstay has performed splendidly in the playoffs. the top five leading scorers in the playoffs for the WBS Pens are: Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen, Mikhail Ilyin, Avery Hayes, and Rutger McGroarty. Bill Zonnon isn’t too far behind them and has played in four less games. Harrison Brunicke has been playing on the top-pair and contributing offensively, as well as defensively, almost every single game. Even Owen Pickering has been constantly lauded by the coaching staff, and his teammates, throughout the playoffs.
Each of the players above are the team’s most NHL ready prospects. The current issue is the fact that the big club has very few spots available. As currently constructed, here is the Penguins roster:
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-OPEN
OPEN-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
OPEN-OPEN
The open spot on the second line seems destined to be filled by Evgeni Malkin. The Athletic reported over the weekend that Malkin’s agent and Dubas are bound to sign a deal once they determine contract structure. So, that leaves two spots on the wing and two bottom pair defensemen slots open. As well as each goaltending spot. We can fill a couple of those holes relatively easily. Harrison Brunicke will almost certainly start the season with the Penguins of Pittsburgh. While it’s curious, he still hasn’t received a contract extension, it seems likely that the team will bring back Ryan Shea to be Brunicke’s partner. We know that the goaltending situation is going to likely be Silovs and Murashov, it seems unlikely that the team starts the season with both Blomqvist and Murashov in Pittsburgh.
This essentially leaves a spot on the third line as the only available open roster spot on the team. That open spot seems almost destined to be given to Rutger McGroarty, or at least it’s his spot to lose. While the roster is certain to change throughout the summer, there’s virtually no room for all these guys to actually have a chance at playing in the NHL.
Obviously, if Dubas is going to swing big for younger talent he will have to peel off pieces from the current roster, and he may also have to attach some of these NHL ready prospects. I’d argue any, maybe all, of the following players could be moved from the current NHL spots: Rickard Rakell, Tommy Novak, Justin Brazeau, Samuel Girard, and Erik Karlsson. Rakell and Karlsson would only be moved in an explosive deal that brings back the mid 20s talent that Dubas is looking to acquire. The other players are only likely to be moved to open up roster spots in the NHL.
Let’s say the Penguins swing and miss on a big trade, but move the other players listed. In this scenario, the Penguins open up a lot of warranted competition for the NHL roster which could look like this:
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Kindel-Malkin
McGroarty-Broz/Zonnon-Hayes/Ilyin/Koivunen
Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Brunicke
Pickering-Letang
In the above scenario, the Penguins really don’t look any worse as a matter of fact, they might be better. The third line might see a decline in offense compared to this past season, but they’d be great defensively. That young-kid third line would also ooze with energy. While Mantha and Brazeau were both great this year, they didn’t provide the type of energy that the great third lines typically provide. McGroarty, Zonnon, and Avery Hayes specifically would be able to give the Penguins a major boost emotionally in any game, plus they each have some offensive flare.
While it’s more likely that only a spot or two is available, the Penguins are not bereft of quality prospects that could come up and make an impact. Even if the team lands a big fish, they have plenty of players ready to backfill whatever spots are voided by the trade. The longer the Wilkes Barre Penguins play, the more they’ll twist Dubas’ arm into opening up spots for them with the big club.
Tomorrow, I will cover the NHL Conference Finals. Colorado might be done playing by the time I write that blog, who saw that coming? I’ll also cover some of the rumors that began to percolate over the weekend. In the meantime, study up on the Penguins prospects because a lot of them look primed to contribute in Pittsburgh next season.
