Pittsburgh Penguins Top Prospects
A look at the Pittsburgh Penguins top prospects heading into the 2015-16 season. The write ups for the Penguins prospects are from mid-season, updating the progress of some of the Penguins top prospects.
Matt Murray: Goalie - 6'4" / 178
Drafted: 83rd overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012
With the league evolving and calling for larger goalies to cover the net (ex: Ben Bishop & Pekka Rinne), Murray has a head start compared to other young goalies. His 6'4" frame covers the net well and swallows most pucks that come his way.
He has performed well in the 2015-16 season, spending a few games in the NHL, but a majority of his season has been spent with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL). For Pittsburgh, he played 4 games and posted a 2-1-1 record with a 1.72 GAA and a .938 SV%. For Wilkes-Barre Scranton, he's dominated, playing in 23 games and posting a 16-6-0 record with a 1.84 GAA and a .937 SV%.
He has potential to be a starter for the Penguins one day or at least a very solid number 2 goalie. For now (and possibly for the 2016-17 season), he will remain in the AHL.
Daniel Sprong: Right Wing - 6'0" / 180
Drafted: 46th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015
Sprong started this year in full stride, impressing Pittsburgh management and earning a roster spot to start the season. He hit a rough patch after 18 games (2 goals, 0 assists) in the NHL, as is often with young players. However, the future is bright for the speedy winger with elite puckhandling skills.
He was then sent back down to Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) where he is played 10 games, tallying 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists).
He's very creative in the offensive end and projects as a top-6 forward. Expect Sprong to challenge for a full time roster spot at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Derrick Pouliot: Defenseman - 6'0" / 207
Drafted: 8th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012
Pouliot's development has come at a slow but steady pace. He's only tallied 35 total NHL games and was recently called up to join the Penguins again on January 23rd due to injuries on the back end.
Pouliot is highly regarded within the Pittsburgh organization for his skating ability and his offensive skills. He has tallied 23 points (6 goals, 17 assists) in 37 games for Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
He projects as a top-4 defenseman, but will need to prove himself in his second stint with Pittsburgh in order to earn a full time roster spot by the start of the 2016-17 season.
Write-up by Justin Lape, on Twitter @LankyLape
2015 Draft
2 46 Daniel Sprong (R) - Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
5 137 Dominik Simon (F) - Plzen HC (Czech)
6 167 Frederik Tiffels (F) - Western Michigan University (NCHC)
7 197 Nikita Pavlychev (C) - Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
2014 Draft
1 22 Kasperi Kapanen (F) - KalPa Kuopio (SM-liiga)
4 113 Sam Lafferty (R) - Deerfield Academy (Mass. H.S.)
5 145 Anthony Angello (F) - Omaha Lancers (USHL)
6 173 Jaden Lindo (R) - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
7 203 Jeff Taylor (D) - Union College (ECAC)
2013 Draft
2 44 Tristan Jarry (G) - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
3 77 Jake Guentzel (C) - Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4 119 Ryan Segalla (D) - Salisbury (Conn. H.S.)
6 164 Dane Birks (D) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
6 179 Blaine Byron (C) - Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
7 209 Troy Josephs (C) - St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins Top Prospects
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1 | M. Murray | D. Pouliot | D. Sprong | D. Pouliot | D. Pouliot | D. Pouliot | D. Pouliot |
2 | D. Sprong | D. Sprong | S. Plotnikov | D. Sprong | D. Sprong | B. Dumoulin | O. Sundqvist |
3 | S. Plotnikov | B. Dumoulin | M. Murray | M. Murray | M. Murray | D. Sprong | B. Dumoulin |
4 | B. Dumoulin | M. Murray | B. Dumoulin | B. Dumoulin | O. Sundqvist | A. Clendening | M. Murray |
5 | O. Sundqvist | T. Jarry | S. Wilson | T. Jarry | B. Dumoulin | O. Sundqvist | D. Sprong |
6 | T. Jarry | O. Sundqvist | A. Clendening | O. Sundqvist | S. Wilson | M. Murray | |
7 | S. Wilson | S. Wilson | O. Sundqvist | S. Wilson | S. Plotnikov | T. Jarry | |
8 | A. Clendening | B. Rust | T. Jarry | B. Rust | T. Blueger | S. Wilson | |
9 | B. Rust | T. Blueger | J. Guentzel | F. Tiffels | B. Rust | T. Blueger | |
10 | J. Guentzel | D. Simon | D. Simon | J.S. Dea | A. Clendening | B. Rust |