Penguins Top Prospects

Depressing

I’m a big fan of Poulin, PO-Joseph and N.Legare though!! I’m glad the Pens hung onto them!! I think they are easily the best prospects we have had since Guentzel.

And I’m pretty high on Almeida too. If you look at his stats he can score. He’s gonna be a 3C, IMO. He’s a bit under-sized at 5’11, 170 pounds. But if he can just add some weight to about 185-190, that would be an average sized NHL player at 5’11, 185 pounds. And he can score and a good playmaker.

And Im a huge fan of Valtteri Puustinen. “The Finish Phil Kessel”. You tube his highlights. He’s slick. And producing in Liiga. A top 5 league outside of the NHL. He looks like a top 6 winger.

And Judd Caulfield, produced everywhere he’s been so far. At 6’4, 210, he has good size and will be a good Power Forward, bottom 6.

And J.Maniscalco, Cam Lee and Drew O’Connor were all really good college players. Maniacalco being the best and the most highly touted Defenseman FA signed out of college this year. I think all 3 have an NHL future.

So it’s not horrible, IMO. One or two top 10 picks after the Sid, Geno, Letang window closes and we are right back. Hopefully Center’s!! With Guentzel, Poulin, Legare, Kapanen, McCann, Marino, Pettersson, PO-Joseph, T.Jarry, Blueger, ZAR all still young and if Maniscalco, Cam Lee, D.O’Connor, J.Almeida, and J.Caulfield hit too and 1 or 2 more Top 10 Center picks, I think we can be right back as a play-off team.

I suppose its hard to say how each player develops. Certainly no blue chips in here but doesn't mean their aren't any sleepers. Pitt’s prospect pool is a lot like SJ’s was before Merkley, Weisblatt, Bordeleau and Melnichuk came around.

Poulin is a top 50 prospect in the NHL and PO-Jospeh is a top 100. They arnt “A+” prospects but not many are. They are definitely “A” prospects though.

And Nathan Legare is a “A-“, “B+” prospect. He lighting it up in the Q-league. Was the 32 ranked player in his draft class. 20 years old, Captain of his team in the Q-League. Had 71 points in 61 games last year and 89 points in 68 games the year before. 89points in 68 games. He’s a scorer too. 47 of the 89 points were goals. He scored 3 goals in 2 pre-season games for the Pens last year in training camp.. In limited time. He’s 6’0, 205. Already NHL body ready. Poulin is 6’3, 210 pounds. And fast. Great skater. Poulin is more of a player-maker than a scorer like N.Legare. Poulin can still score, but he’s a good passer as well.