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For the second 12 months in a row, the Pittsburgh Penguins walked away with the perfect file within the annual NHL Prospects Problem in Buffalo, New York.
After defeating the Buffalo Sabres 8-5 on Monday, Pittsburgh’s subsequent technology of expertise is headed again to Pittsburgh in anticipation of starting coaching camp this week.
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There was a complete lot to love from the Prospects Problem, and it is secure to say that the Penguins haven’t had this a lot expertise on the verge of being NHL-ready in fairly some time.
As Pittsburgh wraps up the lengthy weekend, they look forward to the upcoming season. Listed below are 5 standout prospects to look at when coaching camp opens on Wednesday.
Rutger McGroarty
May as properly get the obvious one out of the best way.
McGroarty stood out in these video games, because it was clear that he thinks the sport at a better stage than just about all of his friends on the tournment did. He was persistently placing himself in place to make performs, and his playmaking shone by means of. He additionally performed his trademark bodily recreation and didn’t draw back from contact.
He completed the event with solely two objectives, however he was noticeable in an excellent manner for the Penguins. He is arguably the highest candidate to interrupt the Penguins’ NHL roster out of coaching camp, and he will certainly be the one man everyone seems to be watching.
Tristan Broz
Pretty much as good as McGroarty was, he wasn’t the perfect participant in these video games.
Nope. That honor goes to 2021 second-round decide Tristan Broz.
Broz was in every single place all weekend lengthy. He registered three objectives and 7 factors in three video games, with 4 of these factors coming towards Buffalo on Monday. He was noticeable in all three zones, performed a bodily recreation, and developed chemistry with Ville Koivunen on the second line.
Related: NHL Prospects Challenge: Penguins’ Prospect Stands Out in Game 2 Win
Recent off of a Nationwide Championship with Denver and signing his ELC, Broz is a longshot to make the roster out of camp. However make no mistake: He was very spectacular throughout these three video games, and there have been a whole lot of Penguins’ NHL brass witnessing it.
Do not rely this man out. If he continues his dominance into coaching camp and into the AHL season, it will not be lengthy earlier than he will get the decision.
Vasily Ponomarev
I wrote about Ponomarev at length on Saturday, however he was excellent in these video games. He did not crack the scoresheet a complete lot – he scored just one aim within the very first recreation – however his work on particular groups and in driving play at five-on-five was arduous to disregard.
He is a ferocious forechecker and performs the sport with tenacity and urgency. He wins puck battles. He clogs taking pictures lanes within the defensive zone. He performs bodily and is not afraid to face up for his teammates. And he has some ability to go together with all of his “grinder” qualities.
Related: Will Vasily Ponomarev push for a roster spot?
Even when Ponomarev does not break the roster out of camp, he’ll doubtless be one of many first names referred to as upon. He has two video games underneath his belt on the NHL stage from his time with the Carolina Hurricanes, and his model of play lends nearly instantly to a third-line function.
Behind McGroarty, he’ll be subsequent in line so far as NHL readiness at coaching camp.
Avery Hayes
It was arduous to not discover Hayes – particularly on Monday, when he recorded a hat trick and an help for 4 factors on the evening – taking part in alongside McGroarty and Ponomarev.
And – in flip – he did not look a fraction misplaced with them.
Hayes handled some accidents in 2023-24 and registered solely six objectives and 9 factors in 29 AHL video games. He has an opportunity to tell apart himself this season, and his efficiency in Buffalo ought to give him a jolt of confidence heading into coaching camp.
Related: NHL Prospects Challenge: Standouts and Thoughts from Game 1
It is arduous to see Hayes being a part of the Penguins’ NHL roster at any juncture this season, however it’s actually not out of the query. He put up nice numbers in juniors – together with a 41-goal, 79-point season in 2021-22 with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs – so it is going to be fascinating to see if Hayes can construct on any of that.
Sergei Murashov
Previous to the Prospects Problem, Murashov had not too long ago signed his ELC after spending the previous few seasons between the junior league and the tremendous league within the KHL.
He did not miss a beat in these three video games. He appeared poised, assured, and comfy within the crease, and he displayed wonderful lateral motion, stickhandling abilities, and play reads.
This man goes to be a really strong NHL goaltender, and possibly within the not-too-distant future. With Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, Taylor Gauthier, and, after all, NHL goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, it is extremely unlikely Penguins’ followers will see Murashov in a NHL uniform in 2024-25.
However he is a goaltending prospect to be enthusiastic about. He is perhaps price holding an in depth eye on in the event you head to Cranberry to view coaching camp firsthand this week.
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