This week, EliteProspects, via their EP Rinkside website, released their NHL Top-100 affiliated prospects list for the 2024-25 season, and the order of the listed Penguins prospects will undoubtedly stir up some controversy.
The Pittsburgh Penguins successfully placed three prospects in the top 100, although none of them broke into the top 50. Among these, one prospect was particularly overlooked—a minor snub that deserves attention.
Brayden Yager made the list at a surprising #85 overall, which raises some eyebrows. As the Penguins' top prospect, his performance in the 2023-24 season alone should have warranted a higher ranking, given the potential he's already demonstrated as a WHL’s top scorer.
Sure, he has room to grow and could do more to stand out in the lineup, but those improvements will come with time. While I wouldn't necessarily place him in the top 50 just yet, ranking him at 85 feels unjust when you consider some of the other names on this list.
Harrison Brunicke, drafted by the Penguins in the mid-second round earlier this year, lands at #79 on the list—a fair placement as he prepares for his first season since being drafted.
He showcases modern defensive techniques but still struggles with consistency, which is typical for an 18-year-old. He has the potential to become a top-four defenseman in the NHL, something the Penguins surely recognize.
His spot in the top 100 is justified, and it will be interesting to see how he performs next month at the Penguins Prospect Challenge in Buffalo.
The highest-ranked Penguin on the EliteProspects list is Owen Pickering, who came in at #63—a surprise considering some of the lower-ranked players.
This isn’t to downplay Pickering's potential; he's an excellent prospect for the Penguins. However, I still view Yager as the most promising.
Pickering has shown solid defensive production since being drafted and just needs more time to develop, likely at the AHL level. There’s even a chance he could crack the NHL roster if the Penguins can’t extend Marcus Pettersson.
Pickering’s ranking is fair, but Yager’s potential suggests he deserved a higher spot.