Penguins Prospect Update: November 2024

Looking at the young players in the Pens’ organization at the start of the 2024-25 season

Given that the Pittsburgh Penguins are placing increased importance on the acquisition and development of young players to help them into their next upcoming era, the turn of the calendar marks a good time to check in on how the list of our Top 25 Under 25 are doing spread across the world in their various leagues.

#25: Raivis Ansons: Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 4 games, 0 goals, 0 assists: Ansons has been working on the fourth line in Wilkes. The 22-year old hasn’t shown a super-high ceiling but will be a part of that team this season. A restricted free agent this summer, it’s an important year for Ansons to get it in gear.

#24: Kirill Tankov: Split time with St. Petersburg (KHL): 2gp, 0G+0A and VHL (5gp, 2G+0A): Tankov made his KHL debut for powerhouse St. Petersburg, which is a tangible step in his progression where it often can be difficult for youngsters to gain big roles on large clubs. He’s been productive at the VHL (AHL version in Russia).

#23: Isaac Belliveau: Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 1gp, 0G+1A: Belliveau made his season-debut in the previous game, injury had kept him out to start the year. He picked up a secondary assist on a goal and took a minor penalty. Given the changing blueline in Wilkes, this is a big season for him to stay healthy and carve out a role on that club.

#22: Taylor Gauthier: Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 0 games: Gauthier has also yet to begin his season due to injury. The goalie is practicing in Wilkes and may get the opportunity for some AHL playing time when he recovers.

#21: Chase Pietila: Western Michigan (CCHA), 4GP, 2G+2A: Solid start to the year statistically for the overage fourth round pick in 2024. Pietila is a the early season team leader in goals and points as a defender and was named to the CCHA preseason team. He’s a sophomore with plenty of eligibility remaining, but at age-20 he might be ready to turn pro and move onto the AHL relatively quickly.

#20: Emil Jarventie: Tappara (SM-Liiga), 8gp, 0G+0A: Not much exciting stuff yet for Jarventie, who has made the climb into Finland’s top league. His season will heat up towards the end of the year with what hopefully will be a spot on the Finns’ U-20 World Juniors team.

#19: Kalle Kangas: HPK (SM-Liiga), 10gp, 0G+2A: The 6’4” defender has also graduated to the top league in Finland and should be a core piece of the Finns’ WJC team being as he already played on it last year at age-18.

#18: Joona Vaisanen Western Michigan (NCHC), 4GP, 1G+1A: The 2024 sixth round pick jumped from the USHL to the NCAA ranks this season, and the defender started his freshman campaign with a goal and an assist.

#17: Filip Kral Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 3 gp, 1G+2A: The 25-year old defender played well at the start for Wilkes but is now injured. Given the Pens’ defensive struggles, he could be a call-up possibility for the NHL this season at some point if injuries strike and once he gets back to health.

#16: Mac Swanson North Dakota (NCHC): 5gp, 1G+1A: The pint-sized 18-year old has launched his NCAA career, this will likely be a season to acclimate before hopefully becoming one of the better collegiate players in the future.

#15: Jonathan Gruden Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 7 gp, 2G+0A: Gruden is a key player in Wilkes as one of their top checkers and more experienced players. He’s played in the NHL in the last two regular seasons (including 13 games in 2023-24) but it will be a crowded field seeking call-ups this year.

#14: Cruz Lucius Arizona St (NCHC), 0 games: Lucius was skating in ASU’s preseason but picked up an injury and hasn’t yet gotten to make his debut there after playing his first two seasons at Wisconsin. As a 20-year old junior with puck skills, expect to see some flashes when he’s cleared.

#13: Emil Pieniniemi: Kingston Frontenacs (OHL), 13 GP, 2G+11A: Exporting from the Finnish top league, it’s been a nice transition to the OHL for Pieniniemi. He’s second on the high-scoring team in assists, fifth in points. He’s been a prospect on the rise, starring this summer at the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase and continuing to steadily progress.

#12: John Ludvig – claimed by Colorado – The Avalanche were tempted by Ludvig on the waiver wire at the end of training camp and picked him up. He’s appeared in three NHL games for them and settled into a mostly depth role there.

#11: Mikhail Ilyin Cherepovets (KHL) 20GP, 1G+9A: The playmaker just scored his first goal of the season and isn’t having as jarring a statistical run as last year but being 19-years old and not only a KHL regular but getting some nice ice time, his prospect star is still burning brightly at the start of 2024-25.

#10: Harrison Brunicke Kamloops (WHL), 9GP 2G+5A: The surprise star of the Pittsburgh training camp, Bruincke has done pretty well back in juniors. His numbers don’t melt your eyes, but he is showing progress (only had 11 assists in 49 games last season) that is in-line with his ability level. Future still looks very bright for him.

#9: Tristan Broz Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 7gp, 3G+2A: Broz has been a solid piece in Wilkes as a rookie. His goal scoring has translated and the 22-year old is putting his developmental time to good use.

#8: Sam Poulin Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 7gp, 2G+5A: Poulin didn’t stand out much in NHL camp but cleared waivers and hasn’t missed a beat in Wilkes. He’s been a good player at the AHL level for a while now when healthy, and fortunately he’s been able to stay on the ice and keep contributing this season so far.

#7: Tanner Howe Regina (WHL), 3gp, 2G+0A: Howe suffered an injury and missed most of the month, but returned this week to the lineup and scored a goal. The 2024-second round pick has been named Regina’s captain and should be able to keep plugging away now that he’s back.

#6: Vasily Ponomarev Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 0 games: The good news for Ponomarev is that he rehabbed in Pittsburgh after a training camp injury and was recently assigned back to the AHL where he should be playing soon. Given his approaching NHL-readiness, Ponomarev might not be in Wilkes for too much longer once he gets back up to speed.

#5: Ville Koivunen Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 7 gp, 1G+5A: Koivunen has been productive at every level so far and that’s held true at the start of his first full season in the AHL. The 21-year old is already proving to be one of the better playmakers in the league and that bodes well for his future.

#4 Sergei Musharov 1 game Wilkes (1-0, .964 save%, 1.00 GAA), 2 games Wheeling (ECHL, 1-1, .829 save%, 3.53 GAA): The goalie shuffle has bumped Murashov down to the ECHL for playing time after a successful appearance in the AHL. No need to get too bent out of shape about early season stats here, he just needs to get games at this point and avoid homesickness in his minor league journey.

#3: Owen Pickering Wilkes-Barre (AHL), 7 GP, 0G+0A: Pickering has been brought along slowly for his pro debut, usually on the third pair. He had a decent NHL camp but needs a lot of work and experience to be gained at the AHL level in the coming months and possibly years, as to be expected for a 20-year old defender.

#2: Joel Blomqvist Pittsburgh (NHL 2-4-0, .909 save%, 3.46 GAA): Shockingly, Blomqvist led all Penguin goalies in NHL minutes in October 2024. He was probably their best goalie too, earning the games in front of a shaky team. It’s been a baptism by fire but it’s been encouraging how he’s handled the opportunity.

#1: Rutger McGroarty: Pittsburgh (3GP, 0G+0A) and Wilkes (5GP, 0G+1A): After being the player of September and getting six NHL preseason games and making the opening night lineup, McGroarty has been settling into his own development mode in the AHL. Despite unimpressive boxcar stats, his coach has been impressed