Three reasons to give the Penguins’ top prospect an NHL look

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Brayden Yager, their first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, to an entry-level deal.

Yager, 19, is eligible to play another season with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. And for prospects so young and still improving, this is usually the move that makes sense.

But after registering 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games last season for the Warriors — and leading his team to the Memorial Cup in 2024 — it might be worth at least giving Yager a taste of the show.

Here are three reasons why the Penguins should consider giving Yager a look at the NHL level in 2024-25.

1. The “9 game test” rule

In 2006, the Penguins selected center Jordan Staal second overall in the NHL Entry Draft. The team had every intention of sending Staal back to his junior team – the Peterborough Petes – that season.

But Staal had other plans. He impressed greatly in camp and in his “nine-game tryout” – which included three of his seven shorthanded goals on the season — that the Penguins had no choice but to keep him around. And he continued to impress:

It’s no secret that prospect development in the analytics era is much more calculated. However, what’s the worst that could happen if Yager had a nine-game tryout?

For some context, junior players can play nine or fewer games at the NHL level before their entry-level contract officially takes effect. Before the 10-game mark, teams have the option of sending the player back to their junior team, as players from the WHL, QMJHL or OHL are not eligible for the American Hockey League (AHL) until they are 20 years of age.

So if Yager looks clearly underdeveloped and out of place in these nine games? Great, send him back to juniors for another season.

But let’s just say he no seems out of place. Let’s say, hypothetically, he scores some goals, looks comfortable next to Sidney Crosby, and helps the Penguins win some early hockey games: Why hold on to him?

If he’s someone who can help the Penguins now and in the future – and that future comes a little sooner than expected – great! There’s no reason to hold that against him.

2. The Penguins have an anemic offense

This could be considered a point “on the back” of the former, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look at him alongside Crosby. The departures of Jake Guentzel and Reilly Smith via trade left a glaring gap in the Penguins’ top six – which doesn’t bode well for an offense that was – well – already notably terrible ending last season:

If there was a prize for Deserve-To-Win-O’Meter in hockey, the Penguins would win much more. But their anemic offense — especially their power play — is literally costing them hockey games and playoff spots.

Add a scorer like Yager to the mix? It probably doesn’t help to move the needle enough to make them dangerous, as evidenced by the poor finish to Guentzel last season. But it could, at the very least, give a boost to an offense and power play that has been dead for a few years.

Yager is young and dynamic offensively, and the Pens’ shooting couldn’t be worse with him involved in the offensive attack.

3. He’s the best prospect they’ve had in years

Ultimately, Penguins fans — as well as the organization — know where this team is inevitably headed. A rebuild is on the horizon, and whether or not they can avoid a total disassembly until Crosby retires or successfully execute a “soft rebuild” to compete in the coming years remains to be seen.

Fans need something – a future – to look forward to. Yager has a chance to give them that “something” during a tumultuous time for the organization. They haven’t seen a prospect like Yager since the early days of the Crosby era.

And make no mistake: Yager will be a good NHL player for the Penguins:

The Penguins are probably going nowhere this season. But giving Yager a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level – even if that chance is short-lived – could provide the spark and injection of youth this team needs to find its footing and start toward a better future.

Related: Breaking: Penguins sign draft pick to entry-level contract

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