Scouting Penguins Prospects and Tournament Roster: Defense (PHN+)

The Pittsburgh Penguins were embarrassed at the Prospect Challenge in Buffalo last year. Their squad of prospects was no match for the other teams from Buffalo and Boston which iced a roster with NHL potentials. The Penguins did not have a team with NHL prospects, but a patchwork of low ceiling players and undrafted college free agents signed to fill spaces.

The 2019 Penguins team should be far more competitive after using the 2019 first-round draft choice, their first in the Jim Rutherford era, on Sam Poulin and a third-round pick on Nathan Legare. The Penguins also signed young but accomplished Finnish Elite League goalie Emil Larmi, 22, and 2016 fifth-round pick (151st overall) from Finland, defenseman Niclas Almari also holds promise.

The Penguins roster will also have a few young players who got a taste of professional hockey in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. Anthony Angello, Sam Lafferty, and  Sam Miletic played full seasons for the WBS Penguins, while prospect defenseman Calen Addison and forward Jordy Bellerive stopped by for a cup of coffee.

Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, 20, was acquired from Arizona in the Phil Kessel trade with Alex Galchenyuk. He will also be on the roster.

Today, we’re scouting the defense prospects. Join PHN+ today for exclusive scouting reports, analysis and in-depth and professional coverage of the prospects tournament, training camp and the regular season.