Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 10 Prospects 2018

10. Juuso Riikola, D [24] (UDFA)

Stats (KalPa, Liiga): 59 gp, 8 g, 16 a, 24 p, 4 PPG, 1 GWG,  (6 pgp, 0 g, 1 a, 1 p).

Juuso Riikola was one of the better defensemen in the Finnish Liiga last season but was not one of the best. One of the top 20, but not one of the top ten. He was tied for 21st in scoring amongst defensemen, 17th in goals, 22nd in assist, and was 32nd in points per game. Those aren’t bad stats, but again, they don’t qualify him as a top-ten guy. That limits his NHL ceiling certainly, and while he has already played two NHL games, he’s not full-time ready.

Juuso Riikola was one of the better defensemen in the Finnish Liiga last season but was not one of the best

In his two NHL game, Riikola has averaged 18 minutes. That’s likely his ceiling, and at 24, he’s already in his peak.

He’ll likely spend some time in the AHL this season, and while he could be a good seventh defenseman for the Penguins, they might be better suited going with someone a bit older just in case Riikola has that last bit of potential he can get while playing consistently in the AHL.

9. Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW [21] (2-61, 2016)

Stats (Providence College, NCAA): 40 gp, 16 g, 7 a, 23 p, 5 PPG, 4 GWG, .58 pts/g.

Kasper Bjorkqvist isn’t a young prospect anymore. He’s 21 and has played in the NCAA the last two years. He’s been put back there for his junior year, and could likely even head back for his senior campaign. But he’s proven to be a notable goal scorer, someone who can score goals on the power play and at even strength. If he’s able to put up better numbers this year, he could have third-line goal scoring potential in the NHL.

he’s proven to be a notable goal scorer, someone who can score goals on the power play and at even strength

Five power play goals and four game-winners are a good sophomore year. The Pittsburgh Penguins likely wish Bjorkqvist had more playmaking ability and was a more well-rounded prospect, but goals are goals, and if he can continue to score them that’s valuable. He was tied for 43rd in the NCAA as a sophomore, and there’s reason to believe he’ll go up from there.

It’s questionable whether he’s got a high NHL ceiling or a high probability of playing there. But the potential is there, and his ceiling is still a good player.

8. Linus Olund, C [21] (5-155, 2017)

Stats (Brynas IF, SHL): 51 gp, 8 g, 15 a, 23 p, 1 PPG, .45 pts/g (8 pgp, 2 g, 3 a, 5 p, 1 PPG, .63 pts/g).

Linus Olund is a good forward, someone who can play defense and support the offense. He was tied for 69th in scoring in the SHL last season at just 20. He was even better in the playoffs, which is great news for his NHL potential and probability. He’s not entirely NHL ready, but that’s what the AHL is for. If he can put up impressive numbers there while continuing to build on his game in the defensive zone, he could be a potential fourth liner for the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

he’s shown that he’s worthy of a spot in the Penguins’ organization, and if he works, he can find his way to the NHL

He’s not that good on the power play, and most of his work is done at even strength. Those are good signifiers of a fourth liner, but a fourth liner with better scoring prowess than most.

So why is he better than Bjorkqvist, who has (arguably) better potential? Because Olund has better NHL probability and is already in the AHL, something Bjorkqvist is not. If they were both forced into the NHL right now, Olund would likely outperform Bjorkqvist, and thus, has better NHL readiness. Finally, he’s more likely to play consistent minutes with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the near future.

That’s why Olund is higher on this list. He still has decent potential, though it’s not as high, and with zero points in the first three games of the AHL season, Olund isn’t exactly inspiring confidence. Still, he’s shown that he’s worthy of a spot in the Penguins’ organization, and if he works, he can find his way to the NHL, even in a bottom line role.

7. Sam Miletic, LW [21] (UDFA)

Stats (London Knights/Niagara Ice Dogs, OHL): 63 gp, 36 g, 56 a, 92 p, 8 PPG (21 A), 2 SHG, 4 GWG, 245 SOG, 1.46 pts/g (10 pgp, 4 g, 8 a, 12 p, 3 PPG (2 A), 50 SOG, 1.2 pts/g).

6th scoring, T-14 goals, 7th assists, 12th pts/g; T-40 playoff scoring, T-31 assists, T-23 pts/g

One of the best playmakers in the OHL this past season, seventh in the best Canadian junior with 56 assists, Sam Miletic still isn’t in the top five of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects. He did all these things at the ripe age of 21 and was an undrafted free agent when he signed with Pittsburgh. Those are two factors working against him, that no scout saw enough in him to fight for him for three drafts (18, 19, 20) and that he’s doing well but as an overager.

Miletic will make his money as a playmaker

Miletic will make his money as a playmaker but is one of the forwards who doesn’t bring a ton of goal scoring prowess (tied for 14th in the OHL in goals this past season). Miletic also faded in the playoffs, especially as a goal scorer and on the power play. Miletic is still nice on the penalty kill and can be a quarterback on the power play, somebody who can play the point with the defenseman.

Miletic also has decent shot metrics for a playmaker, averaging 3.89 shots per game. He very much improved in that category in the playoffs, averaging five shots per game. If he continues to the AHL with those shot metrics this season, he’ll be better than 36 goals in the Canadian juniors as a goal scorer. He’s already earned his first professional point and could wind up in the NHL at some point as a bottom-six playmaker.

6. Zach Aston-Reese, C [24] (UDFA)

Stats (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL): 41 gp, 9 g, 20 a, 29 p, 1 PPG (1 A), 1 SHG, 3 GWG, 1 ENG, 78 SOG, .71 pts/g; 16 gp, 4 g, 2 a, 6 p (9 pgp, 0 g, 1 a, 1 p). Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL

Having already played not only NHL games, but playoff games, Zach Aston-Reese is probably higher on a lot of people’s Penguins prospects lists than he is on mine. See, he didn’t play exactly well in those playoff games and was a fourth liner. He scored one point. He doesn’t have a ton of NHL ceiling, and while he’ll likely figure into the Penguins’ permanent lineup as a fourth-line center at some point in the future, that’s not the most enviable position on the team. That’s a good prospect, but that’s not a great one.

he’ll likely figure into the Penguins’ permanent lineup as a fourth-line center at some point in the future

Aston-Reese played better in the regular season when he was two minutes more every game. He scored four goals on a 20 percent shooting rate while playing with better linemates than he had in the playoffs. While that should lead to hope – that he can play with and play well with quality teammates – that’s a thing most NHL players can do. That doesn’t mean he’s not better suited for life as a fourth-line center.

Aston-Reese is starting the year in the AHL and will attempt to work his way back up. He’s already scored a goal this season and is one of the best players on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton roster. He’s a likely candidate for an injury call-up and definitely has NHL potential. It’s the lack of ceiling that drives him down this list.

5. Justin Almeida, C [19] (5-129, 2018)

Stats (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL): 72 gp, 43 g, 55 a, 98 p, 14 PPG (14 A), 6 SHG (3 A), 10 GWG, 223 SOG, 1.36 pts/g (14 pgp, 6 g, 7 a, 13 p, 3 PPG (2 A), 2 GWG, 36 SOG, .93 pts/g).

Justin Almeida is the first of the crucial teenagers for the Pittsburgh Penguins on this list. He was excellent in the WHL this past season, scoring 98 points in 72 games. That was good for 10th in the league in points and tied for 16th in points per game. He’s a very balanced scorer and did well both shorthanded and on the power-play.

While he may not be a top-six guy, he can be a third-line winger who plays on the second unit power play and the second unit penalty kill. That’s the kind of balance the Penguins need in the future, and Almeida brings it.

Like the best penalty killers, Almeida also rarely takes penalties himself. He had just 10 penalty minutes last season in the WHL and had the same number of game-winning goals. He’s developing really nicely right now and could surpass his current ceiling quickly. Teams love when a prospect forces their way onto a team. Almeida, if he continues developing incredibly well, could do that next season.

Still, Almeida remains just fifth on this list because of his playoff performance (or lack thereof), disappearing when the Moose Jaw Warriors needed him. He was tied for 58th in points per game in the playoffs, which is not nearly good enough. For having a near-100 point season last year, Almeida doesn’t need to prove anything in the regular season this year. But he needs to be a reliable number one guy for Moose Jaw in the playoffs.

4. Filip Hallander, RW [18] (2-58, 2018)

Stats (Timra IK, Allsvenskan): 40 gp, 9 g, 11 a, 20 p (9 pgp, 1 g, 1 a, 2 p).

Filip Hallander was a well-regarded forward heading into the draft and yet was picked up in the late second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins. That could end up being a steal for the team, who will need more and more forward help as the team continues to spend money and need depth forwards who can step up into pivotal roles. An aging team like the Penguins doesn’t survive without good young players who can play for cheap. Hallander looks to be one of those guys for the future.

Hallander was playing for Sweden’s version of the AHL at the tender age of 17 and did quite well considering the circumstances. He’s got balanced powers as an offensive threat but could be better in both categories. He helped Timra IK qualify for the SHL last season, and now has four points in seven games with the team (two goals and two assists. See? Balance). Hallander also helped Sweden win the Bronze medal at the Hlinka Memorial Cup.

That’s without discussing Hallander’s notable defensive presence and abilities. He’s a two-way winger along the lines of some of the best Swedish forwards produced in the last few years. Hallander does everything well and is working on becoming better everywhere. He’s not elite yet, but he’s working on it. He’s got a middle-six ceiling.

3. Jordy Bellerive, C [19] (UDFA)

Stats (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL): 71 gp, 46 g, 46 a, 92 p, 16 PPG (23 A), 1 SHG (2 A), 322 SOG, 1.30 pts/g (16 pgp, 9 g, 16 a, 25 p, 5 PPG (7 A), 1 SHA, 1 GWG, 81 SOG, 1.56 pts/g).

Signing a player as a 19-year-old undrafted free agent means one of two things: you didn’t believe enough in that player to draft them, or you saw more than enough and pounced on them as soon as you saw they were available.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jordy Bellerive, it’s likely the second one. Think of Bellerive as the Penguins’ first-round pick this year – he brings that much to the table. He was tied for 12th in scoring in the WHL (yes, below Almeida) and eighth in goals.

He followed up that impressive regular season performance with an even better one in the playoffs. That’s the difference between Bellerive and Almeida – Bellerive improved when the pressure increased.

Also, he was ninth in playoff scoring, 11th in points per game, and tied for eighth in assists. He was beyond excellent on the man advantage all season, and he had wonderful shot metrics (4.54 shots per game in the regular season, 5.06 in the playoffs). With the old parable “shooters shoot” holding true now more than ever, Bellerive is a shooter.

This is someone who could end up as the second wing for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as they age. He could benefit from a center of their stature, but at the same time, he could help improve their performance as well. Bellerive is the modern NHL winger, and he’ll get a better look in next year’s preseason camp with another year fully removed from his traumatic injury.

2. Calen Addison, D [18] (2-53, 2018)

Stats (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL): 68 gp, 11 g, 54 a, 65 p, 2 PPG (35 A), 193 SOG, .96 pts/g (16 gp, 7 g, 12 a, 19 p, 4 PPG (10 A), 1 GWG, 56 SOG, 1.19 pts/g).

Calen Addison is the best defenseman the Pittsburgh Penguins have in the pipeline right now. He’s the best defenseman they’ve had in the pipeline in a long time. While the team recently signed Jack Johnson and traded for Jamie Oleksiak, Addison could quietly develop into a top-four defenseman.

He was one of the best defensemen in the WHL in his draft year, tied for ninth in scoring, sixth in assists, and ninth in points per game amongst defensemen. He did better in the playoffs, tied for second in playoff scoring and he was first in goals.

Addison had impressive shot metrics (2.84 shots per game) and stepped up in the playoffs. He’s a small, puck-moving defenseman who needs to improve in his own zone but is the closest thing the Penguins have come to a first-round talent in a long time. Addison can do a lot across every aspect of the game, including quarterbacking the power play and driving possession.

Addison isn’t NHL ready, but he may have better potential and ceiling than anybody else on this list. He’s also got a higher probability of playing for the Penguins, considering the relative lack of any serious defensive prospects in the system, and an aging group ahead of him in Kris Letang, Johnson, and Justin Schultz.

1. Daniel Sprong, RW [21] (2-46, 2015)

Stats (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL): 65 gp, 32 g, 33 a, 65 p, 11 PPG (8 A), 7 GWG, 1 ENG, 214 SOG, 1 pt/g (3 pgp, 1 g, 0 a, 1 p)

Stats (Pittsburgh Penguins, NH): 8 gp, 2 g, 1 a, 3 p.

Daniel Sprong has been topping this list since he was drafted in 2015. And yet, he still hasn’t played enough NHL games to qualify. It feels like the last few years, the Pittsburgh Penguins held out hope for him and, only now is he capitalizing on it. Sprong has played four NHL games this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has three assists. Albeit playing with the Penguins’ forwards likely helps with that, Sprong is good enough to make the players around him better.

He certainly did in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, when he helped drive the team to the playoffs and was a point-per-game at the professional level at 20 years old. Sprong has a lot of potential as he showed last year. Playing with Crosby on the top line potential. He is a good goal scorer and a good playmaker, and he can play anywhere in the lineup. The perfect compliment to what Crosby likes to highlight.

Sprong has scored professional goals already, finding twice in eight games last season. He’ll score more goals this season, and at 21 it’s very easy to see him climbing the ladder on the team. He’s got a great ceiling, is already playing consistent minutes with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is clearly NHL ready. Top of the class in every category equals a clear number one prospect.