Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects Thread

[PAJEN NORDGREN]

Hållander did not participate in last SHL game with Timrå. Injured och healthy scratched? He has been riding a pointless streak a couple of games now.

 

[rickardr]

Hållander did not participate in last SHL game with Timrå. Injured och healthy scratched? He has been riding a pointless streak a couple of games now.

He has been sick. Was back at the latest game against HV71 and was really good, should have gotten atleast 2 assists if his teammates just could score, one had an empty net after a good rush and pass from him. Points will come if he keeps creating chanses like hes been doing. Not worried at all.

 

[Peat]

Bellerive leads WHL to victory

He was an alternate captain - Addison and Almeida also played. Second game tonight.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Bellerive leads WHL to victory

He was an alternate captain - Addison and Almeida also played. Second game tonight.

Important for him making the WJC team. I don’t put a ton of stock into that tournament as far as rating players but I do want to watch as many Penguins prospects as I can.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Watching Game 2 tonight.
Bellerive's line is pretty good with Hurricane teammate Cozens and an interesting undrafted kid in Brett Leason.

Leason is tearing up the WHL on a not so star studded Prince Albert team. Big kid at 6'4/200 and can wheel.

Brett Leason at eliteprospects.com
https://hfboards.mandatory.com/thre...ce-albert-raiders-whl-2017-undrafted.2562171/

ETA: Almeida got injured in game 1 i believe? Broadcast said some other kid was in instead of him.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Watching Game 2 tonight.
Bellerive's line is pretty good with Hurricane teammate Cozens and an interesting undrafted kid in Brett Leason.

Leason is tearing up the WHL on a not so star studded Prince Albert team. Big kid at 6'4/200 and can wheel.

Brett Leason at eliteprospects.com
https://hfboards.mandatory.com/thre...ce-albert-raiders-whl-2017-undrafted.2562171/

ETA: Almeida got injured in game 1 i believe? Broadcast said some other kid was in instead of him.

Curious why he went undrafted, twice?

I'd hope for the Pens to keep an eye on him if he's an impressive kid that is undrafted. We could use more prospects, especially down the middle as well.

 

[Peat]

ETA: Almeida got injured in game 1 i believe? Broadcast said some other kid was in instead of him.

Yup, that's confirmed on the WHL network site.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Curious why he went undrafted, twice?

I'd hope for the Pens to keep an eye on him if he's an impressive kid that is undrafted. We could use more prospects, especially down the middle as well.

Can he be signed right now? If so, I want him inked yesterday. Big centerman who can skate and can head straight into the AHL? Next.

On a similar note, lotta decent talent is coming to WBS next year. Nobody I expect to really be a star, but if the Pens can start to fill out a decent portion their bottom 6 with cheap ELC guys- A) an older team gets younger, and B) cap wise it allows them to add another stud in the top 6 or top 4. Just the sheer quantity of prospects makes me hope that’s a legitimate possibility.

 

[Jacob]

I think the window to sign undrafted junior players is closed and he has to go through another draft.

 

[steelcityassault]

Can he be signed right now? If so, I want him inked yesterday. Big centerman who can skate and can head straight into the AHL? Next.

On a similar note, lotta decent talent is coming to WBS next year. Nobody I expect to really be a star, but if the Pens can start to fill out a decent portion their bottom 6 with cheap ELC guys- A) an older team gets younger, and B) cap wise it allows them to add another stud in the top 6 or top 4. Just the sheer quantity of prospects makes me hope that’s a legitimate possibility.

Who's potentially turning pro?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Who's potentially turning pro?

Just off the top of my head

Hallander
Bjorkqvist
Bellerive
Almeida
Drozg
Almari
Lauzon

 

[Peat]

Bellerive, Drozg, Almeida, D'Orio and Lauzon will all be AHL eligible. Not sure whether they'd sign Lauzon as things stand - an AHL contract, or signing but sending back for an overage year might make more sense - but the rest are all coming in.

None of the college kids are exhausting their eligibility but all are of them at an age where they should be considering it. Bjorkqvist is the only one we've heard the intentions of and he's talked about getting his degree, so who knows for sure there. I don't think either of Jones or Reilly are doing particularly standout things but our standard for signing dmen isn't that high right now (which might help Lauzon too). Pavlychev looks like being the dark horse of the college kids at the moment, early days but if he maintains his current pace we have a 6'7" C with ppg college production and who can skate. Yes please!

Foreign wise... I still think the people forecasting Hallander as coming over next season are optimistic, the org takes things slowly and he still has some frame to grow into. But who knows. Almari is almost definitely coming over and good timing too as he seems to be stalling. Palojarvi looks like he's got plenty he can still learn in Finland, so I'd expect him to stay there.

So Bellerive, Drozg, Almeida, D'Orio and Almari for almost certain with Bjorkqvist, Lauzon, Pavlychev, Jones, Reilly and Hallander as maybes, with Palojarvi as probably not. Which pretty much covers our entire prospect base - only Addison and Gorman are definitely not graduating. Oh! Phillips too.

Gotta say, looking at that list, I think that they're probably going to encourage a few guys to stay a year longer out the system. Taking in 10 contracts at once is unlikely. Also, the guys already in the system need to make an impact pretty quick.

And when's the last time we had 3 ppg junior forwards join at once?

 

[wej20]

No chance Lauzon gets signed, barring a miracle.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

No chance Lauzon gets signed, barring a miracle.

Maybe an AHL deal like Josephs.

 

[wej20]

Maybe an AHL deal like Josephs.

Possibly, he should definitely go back to juniors if a team is willing to let him play an overage season.

 

[FreeBobbyFarnham]

I stumbled upon an article on Lauzon on the NHL's twitter account. It's in french , but here I have made the translation. Interesting stuff.

June 2017. Zachary Lauzon is all smiles on the podium in front of the media and Pittsburgh journalists.

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies' defenseman knew he was going to be drafted that day, but he did not expect the Penguins to make him their first pick of the draft in the middle of the second round.

He knew how special it would be to wear the same jersey and be part of the same organization as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kristopher Letang - all players he idolized growing up. He couldn't wait to meet and share the ice with them.

What he has yet to know is that the concussion he previously suffered in April will delay his development and even put his career in jeopardy.

Here's the story of his long road towards healing.

*************************************

2017-18. Lauzon believes he has been patient enough and that his rehabilitation is over. He was not able to jump on the ice at his very first training camp with the Penguins and couldn't play throughout the whole Huskies' pre-season.

The opening home game of the season was thought to be the right time to return. After all, he has to help his teammates and start proving to the Penguins that they've made the right choice drafting him.

"I was putting a lot of pressure on myself after I was drafted and I really wanted to play hockey, he remembered talking with NHL.com. As soon as I began to feel better, I returned. I came back to the game too rapidly and it ended up hurting me. "

This will end up being the story of his season. After playing his third game on September 27th, he was forced to take a break until November 8th. He played eight other contests before having to be absent from November 26th to February 14th. He then returned for the last 14 games of the regular season and played the first five games of the series.

But it was too much. He couldn't lace them up for the last two games of the first-round and the Huskies were eliminated in seven games.

"What really hurts me the most is that I'm a big competitor and it frustrates me to not be able to play, so I came back prematurely," said the young man. I felt helpless and could not help my team. I was frustrated, I was not in a good place mentally at that period of my life.


*************************************

Lauzon was obviously not purposely trying to harm himself. He sought the advice of various specialists throughout his rehabilitation and he often obtained conflicting reports about what was preventing him from returning to form once and for all.

His desire to prove his worth to the Penguins and sign his first professional contract were weighting heavily on his shoulders. All this while the confidence took a hit.

"There's a period where you're a little bit in the dark, where you do not really know what's going on," said the 20-year-old defender. I felt I was back to square one every time and it was no fun. I was nervous, when practicing, and could not wait for the practice to finish. I was nervous and did not sleep much.

"I was not going to school anymore, I was just playing hockey. At one point, it caught my eye. I had to take care of my health if I wanted to play as long as possible and have a good quality of life after my career. I came to realize that late towards the end of the season. "

He opted to take a break for a few months to get better and think about his future. At that point, the idea of a potential retirement went through his head.

*************************************


The step back.

When you have a brother who has been drafted by the Boston Bruins (Jeremy) and another who plays in the Q (Émile), it can be difficult to stay away from hockey - even during the off-season.

Even then, a break did him the greatest good.

"It made me realize not only that health is important, but also that I was not ready to hang my skates," he said. I still have a chance to have a professional career, but the important thing right now is to take care of myself.

"I now look at this situation from another angle. I really see it as an investment now and I'm not as invested in it all. "

Although it is far from being the typical course for a player, both the Huskies and the Penguins have shown their support through this journey.

"Everyone has understood my situation," he said. They understood that I needed a break this summer. No one teased me to force me to return to training or to be ready when the season starts again. Just feeling the support by all the people around me, it made me feel good. "

*************************************


The diagnosis.

Towards the end of July, Lauzon's phone rings. His agent informs him that he has an appointment with Dr. Ted Carrick at the Plasticity Brain Center in Orlando, Florida.

Ted Carrick is the chiropractor who has worked on several cases of athletes with concussion symptoms, including Sidney Crosby. Not a nobody to use the words of the young Quebecer.

Lauzon spends five days there and is treated for about three hours a day. He is informed that it is a cervical problem suffered during the impact that caused his concussion in 2017. Carrick has therefore built a rehabilitation program that he adapts to Lauzon's needs every month.

"It makes a big difference to trust the diagnosis and the doctors," he said. Before, I did not really know what to do, if I had to rest, train or go back to the game. I did the exercises and treatments they offered me and I progressed more in the last two months than I previously did in a full year.

"It's motivating to know that my symptoms are not brain related, but instead that it is a mechanical neck problem that will correct itself. It may take a while, but it will correct itself."

*************************************


The return.

At the time of his break, the Val-d'Orien had come to the conclusion that he would not play in the 2018-19 season, he who would have initially had to start his professional career in the AHL last September.

Now, he plans to train for four weeks without contact to get back into shape and see where he is at in his healing process.

"Just to be in Rouyn and start training again with the team, I really wouldn't have believed it three months ago," he said. I am really proud of everything I have accomplished. Right now, I'm keeping a good attitude and I'm happy. No matter what happens, I will be proud of the progress I've made and I will be able to say that I've seen it through.

"Of course there is a psychological barrier to cross. I've experienced stress and anxiety. But deep down, I know I have not finished playing hockey. I'm not ready to call it a career and I know I still have many years of hockey left in me. "

*************************************


The dream.

Through all of this, Lauzon has never lost sight of his dream, despite how far away he seemed from returning after having the privilege to wear a Penguins' jersey at the draft.

Luckily, he was able to reconnect with his NHL dream just a few days ago when the whole family went to Boston to watch Jeremy's debut in a Bruins' uniform. Seeing his brother play in the Garden has rekindled the fire in him.

"It was a special moment that I'm not going to forget," he said. It sure gave me a pat on the back and it motivated me even more to return to the game. It's everyone's dream to play in the NHL. "

 

[Peat]

Thanks for that FBF.

And... well, I don't know whether he can turn it round and get the contract but with a story like that, the kid was clearly born to be a Penguin. Just hope everything goes smoothly for him in the future, with or without us.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

It’s like they have radar for this shit.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Interesting story. Hope the kid can make a full recovery and get that quality of life, in hockey or out of it.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Took long enough to get some real info on the kid and after reading all of it, PIT brass should've got him down in the States to see the specialists way earlier.
Hope all goes well for him and he has no more set backs.

 

[BladeRunner66]

It’s like they have radar for this ****.

Maybe the idea is to get enough of them to make a buffer as illustrated below.

Once you get enough of them aren't you bound not to attract more?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Regardless of whether he goes back for an overage year first, or the deal is AHL only, I think they sign him.

But he’s a really strong skater, has size, and is committed to being responsible in his own zone. Can play both sides. He’s pretty much got zero upside but wouldn’t be too surprised to see him become an decent pro even if it’s just at the AHL level. Sucks they used a 2nd on him but might as well get some use out of it.

And I wouldn’t be shocked if he turned it around and makes the NHL. Just saying.

 

[Jacob]

Carick is a quack right?

 

[WayneSid9987]

Carick is a quack right?

Some say he is and some swear by him.
Seems alot of athletes, pro and amateur, will take him for a spin/try his methods out.
Wasn't just him i was talking about tho since Pittsburgh has one of the best brain injury/rehab guys in the world in Mickey Collins. Perhaps they did get him in to see him as well. Dunno.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Soo... he basically had the same situation as Crosby.