Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 10 Prospects 2018
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.
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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.