
Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2023 Draft Grade: B-
The Penguins, as usual, didn’t have a ton of picks, but they made the pick at 14. Brayden Yager should be a top-six forward for them in a few years, whether at center or the wing. There haven’t been many players I can say that about in their pipeline in recent memory. I think defenseman Emil Pieniniemi has a chance to make it too.
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Draft Class
14. Brayden Yager, C, MOOSE JAW (WHL)
January 3, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 170 pounds
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: High-end
Player comparable: Travis Konecny
Background: Yager was an important all-situations center for Moose Jaw this season. He scored 34 goals in 63 WHL games as a 16-year-old being named CHL Rookie of the Year. He also scored 18 points in 24 WHL games as a 15-year-old. He was the best player at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, leading Canada to gold. Yager was the third pick in his WHL Bantam Draft.
Analysis: Yager is a player with a pro-style game. He plays with a lot of speed and energy, showing the ability to carry pucks up the ice and make skilled plays with pace. He’s not the biggest center, but Yager plays hard, showing a commitment to making plays without the puck and winning a lot of battles even though he’s not overly physical. His main offensive weapon is his shot, which is high end due to his great technique and accuracy, but he does have the slick hands and vision to beat defenses in other ways. He didn’t score goals this season like I thought he would with his shot, but I believe he will in future seasons. At his size there will be questions about whether he’s an actual NHL center despite his skating and effort. My comparable for him is an NHL wing, reflecting the risk in his projection at that position, but I see a reality where he turns into a Vincent Trocheck type.
Thoughts on the pick: Yager is an excellent two-way center despite his lack of size. He plays with NHL pace, he has an excellent shot and he has good skill. He may not be the most dynamic small player you’ll ever see, but he has pro traits. The question is whether he will be an NHL center or wing at his size but he can be a top-six forward for the Penguins in a few years.
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91. Emil Pieniniemi, LHD, KARPAT JR. (FINLAND-JR.)
March 2, 2005 | 6′ 2″ | 175 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Background: Pieniniemi played a large role on Karpat’s U20 team and was a top-four defenseman for Finland’s U18 age group this season. He got one game at the Liiga level but didn’t play a shift in that contest.
Analysis: Pieniniemi has the toolkit of an NHL defenseman. Specifically his 6-foot-2 frame and the way he skates. He has a fluid stride in all directions with good power. He’s able to skate pucks up the ice well, can close on checks quickly and navigate the blue line with his feet. I don’t think Pieniniemi stands out defensively, though, despite his range and mobility, but that’s something that he projects to be as a pro. He ideally would add more physicality to his game. Offensively he shows good instances of skill. I wouldn’t describe him as a natural puck-mover, so exactly what his NHL role will be is unclear, but he has the components to be an NHL player on a third pair.
142. Mikhail Ilyin, RW, CHEREPOVETS JR. (RUSSIA-JR.)
February 15, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 181 pounds
Analysis: Ilyin was a point-per-game forward in Russia’s junior league this season, and actually got 20 games in the KHL for Severstal as well.
174. Cooper Foster, C, OTTAWA (OHL)
June 4, 2005 | 5′ 11″ | 172 pounds
Analysis: Foster is a smart offensive player with a good shot. He’s not that big, but he works hard enough and can play on the PK. His game is somewhat vanilla. He has good but not great skill, average skating and a below-average frame.
217. Emil Jarventie, LW, ILVES JR. (FINLAND-JR.)
April 4, 2005 | 5′ 10″ | 167 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
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Background: Jarventie was just OK in the Finnish junior ranks this season. He was loaned to several pro teams during the course of the season from Ilves, which is a top program. He was an important part of Finland’s U18 team. He is the younger brother of Ottawa’s second-round pick in 2020 Roby Jarventie.
Analysis: Jarventie is a talented winger. He is an excellent skater who can push the pace with his speed, but also has the strong edge work to weave in and out of traffic. He displays good puck skills and offensive instincts. He is both a strong passer and shooter who can help a power play. Jarventie isn’t the biggest forward, though. His compete is fine, but I wouldn’t call him a high-energy type either or someone who is that physical. He’s a good player but it’s uncertain where he would actually fit in an NHL lineup.
223. Kalle Kangas, LHD, JOKERIT JR. (FINLAND-JR.)
February 1, 2005 | 6′ 4″ | 205 pounds
Analysis: Kangas is a tall defenseman with solid physicality who can make a fair number of stops. He shows flashes of good vision and puck movement but has little offensive skill, and that playmaking is inconsistent at best. His skating is also quite heavy.
(Photo of Kyle Dubas courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins)
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