Scouting WBS: Poulin, Blomqvist & a Mean Defenseman on the Way (+)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a veteran-laden group with plenty of NHL experience and a full quota of veterans. Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas made sure of that as he stocked the Penguins’ AHL affiliate after a few seasons of disappointing results and precious little depth for the NHL club.

The Penguins’ prospects pool remains shallow, but after scouting Wilkes-Bare on Wednesday, it seems a few players are taking steps toward the NHL.

The W-B/S Penguins took advantage of the Hartford Wolfpack, who had their weary bus legs in the first period, in a resounding 4-1 win at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now made the trip primarily to see Jesse Puljujarvi, who is playing on a professional tryout agreement. You can read the full analysis and state of Puljuarvi’s game here. However, he was not the only player we could see in Pittsburgh.

The W-B/S team also features the Penguins’ 2019 first-round pick, Sam Poulin, who returned to the team this season after missing most of last season to deal with mental health issues. Joel Blomqvist is the organization’s top goalie prospect, and there is a defenseman who is becoming a horse in front of his own net who could find his way to the big show sooner rather than later.

We’ll begin the second analysis piece of Penguins prospects with that defenseman.