Ryan Wilson: Penguins farm system ranked 28th which is both fine and problematic Penguins farm system ranked 28th which is both fine and problematic

They aren't getting a Crosby and Malkin again.
- Ryan_Wilson

Just threaten to fold/relocate the franchise.

Just threaten to fold/relocate the franchise.
- jmatchett383

A part of me wants the Penguins to have a bad year and miss the playoffs... just to win the draft lottery and draft that Lafreniere kid #1. The butthurt would be unreal.

I thought Addison had to play one more year of juniors.

For a guy who values production, I'm surprised RW isn't a little higher on Legare. Being 3rd in goals and 8th in points in the Q during his draft year is pretty impressive.

Finally get a prospect blog and it's basically screw all the prospects besides Addison and Bellerive (who I like as a potential 3C)

I know it says their ranking with this guy was 23rd last year but that's the first time in like ten years I've heard the Pens prospect pool being ranked any higher than 27th.

The "cupboards are bare" has been said for around a decade now.

None of this is to say I don't agree with the assessment...it's just the same'ish assessment every year.

I thought Addison had to play one more year of juniors.

For a guy who values production, I'm surprised RW isn't a little higher on Legare. Being 3rd in goals and 8th in points in the Q during his draft year is pretty impressive.

Finally get a prospect blog and it's basically screw all the prospects besides Addison and Bellerive (who I like as a potential 3C)
- Tojo.

Hahaha RW can be a real Debbie Downer.

A part of me wants the Penguins to have a bad year and miss the playoffs... just to win the draft lottery and draft that Lafreniere kid #1. The butthurt would be unreal.
- SuperHenderson13

You make it sound so easy....I think there are probably 20+ other teams thinking the same thing. First or last is pretty much the only way to go these days.

I know it says their ranking with this guy was 23rd last year but that's the first time in like ten years I've heard the Pens prospect pool being ranked any higher than 27th.

The "cupboards are bare" has been said for around a decade now.

None of this is to say I don't agree with the assessment...it's just the same'ish assessment every year.
- MattStrat

I read last year's again. I think the main difference is he saw Sprong as an impact player and that raised the system. Right now, Pronman only has 2 players, Addison and Legare, on the bubble of his 3rd tier: top 6 forward or top 4 defenseman.

Pronman actually as the system being much deeper. Last year only 3 players were considered legit prospects with 7 having a chance. This year it's 9 and 17. It's just mostly bottom of the roster guys who hopefully can be middle roster and no blue chip talent.

A part of me wants the Penguins to have a bad year and miss the playoffs... just to win the draft lottery and draft that Lafreniere kid #1. The butthurt would be unreal.
- SuperHenderson13

"In other news, PPG Paints arena, the ridiculously terribly named home arena of the Pittsburgh Penguins's, mysteriously burned down today. Police have so far made no arrests, but several eye witnesses spotted a large, orange furry person leaving the scene."

"In other news, PPG Paints arena, the ridiculously terribly named home arena of the Pittsburgh Penguins's, mysteriously burned down today. Police have so far made no arrests, but several eye witnesses spotted a large, orange furry person leaving the scene."
- jmatchett383

It was Scott Hartnell.

Does anyone really take these rankings to heart? Judging prospects outside of the ones that make your jaw drop the first time you watch them is a poop show.

It was Scott Hartnell.
- burgh4life87

Well, he is looking for work...

Does anyone really take these rankings to heart? Judging prospects outside of the ones that make your jaw drop the first time you watch them is a poop show.
- burgh4life87

If that's the case, why do teams spend millions of dollars to scout players all over the globe when there's only maybe 5-8 each year who make your jaw drop? There is A LOT of evaluation that goes into drafting and ranking prospects.

was it guys like randy sexton finding those players who may have been overlooked previously? and now that he is with the sabres, no one back filled that role as well?

was it guys like randy sexton finding those players who may have been overlooked previously? and now that he is with the sabres, no one back filled that role as well?
- i'mjustafan

Too early to tell. It's only been a couple years and that's without a first until now. These guys are just getting to WBS.

Does anyone really take these rankings to heart? Judging prospects outside of the ones that make your jaw drop the first time you watch them is a poop show.
- burgh4life87

Yes.

If that's the case, why do teams spend millions of dollars to scout players all over the globe when there's only maybe 5-8 each year who make your jaw drop? There is A LOT of evaluation that goes into drafting and ranking prospects.
- jmatchett383

I'm not saying it isn't a lot of work. It takes a ton of work, years of proper due diligence to find players that fit your system/coach. That doesn't mean that the ranking of systems should be taken to heart.

I'm not saying it isn't a lot of work. It takes a ton of work, years of proper due diligence to find players that fit your system/coach. That doesn't mean that the ranking of systems should be taken to heart.
- burgh4life87

The same type (not amount) of work that goes into evaluating potential draftees is what people put into their prospect rankings. So yes, while not a science, I think you can get pretty close on the whole.

Prospect lists are like looking into a crystal ball. The future is a ways off. Pens cupboard is bare. We get it. Nothing new here.

Does anyone really take these rankings to heart? Judging prospects outside of the ones that make your jaw drop the first time you watch them is a poop show.
- burgh4life87

If you're the type who wants to get a read on guys, yes. Even then, it's a war of attrition with prospects like you said. Just get an idea of who is on the radar.

The same type (not amount) of work that goes into evaluating potential draftees is what people put into their prospect rankings. So yes, while not a science, I think you can get pretty close on the whole.
- jmatchett383

I guess that is sort of what I am getting at. I just think that maybe 21-31 are all up for debate and the preference towards one blue chip prospect could be the difference.

On another note, did you see Voracek's promise to flyer fans on twitter?

I guess that is sort of what I am getting at. I just think that maybe 21-31 are all up for debate and the preference towards one blue chip prospect could be the difference.

On another note, did you see Voracek's promise to flyer fans on twitter?
- burgh4life87

The Pens are definitely on in the bottom 3rd...even 21 is a pipe dream. They just don't have anyone that screams top-6/top-3 right now. I think more like 26-30 is probably closer. But it's all prospects at this point for everyone (see: Daigle, Alex).

And yes, Voracek is quite a funny guy.

The Pens are definitely on in the bottom 3rd...even 21 is a pipe dream. They just don't have anyone that screams top-6/top-3 right now. I think more like 26-30 is probably closer. But it's all prospects at this point for everyone (see: Daigle, Alex).

And yes, Voracek is quite a funny guy.
- jmatchett383

Yah, i'm unfortunately blocked but apparently so are a lot of people. I did see the screenshot though. He knows how to mess with the fans.

The Pens are rather thin on blue chip prospects but I suspect that they may deal Malkin, Letang or maybe even Crosby in the future to replenish them.

The problem with that low rating over the last 5+ years is that was totally wrong. So our system was rated low but produced a 40 goal scorer in Guentzel and a top 10 goalie in Murray who plays top 5 level for very long stretches when healthy. How many systems added players like that over the past few years from players not drafted in the 1st round? Also plenty of other players added from the system over those 5 years. Plus Rutherford has done a great job of adding young talented players like Pettersson, McCann, Schultz, and others over his tenure while still going for it each year. Gone are the Shero days trading high picks for rentals.

Most of Rutherford’s deals are for players with term 27 or younger. The whole team around the core is young. Hornqvist is the only forward around the core that is not 27 or younger. Both goalies are young and only JJ is not in his 20’s on defense. So we surrounded our aging 3 core players with a young supporting cast while still adding to the prospect depth.

I believe this year’s prospect group is much better than last years but we go from 23 to 28th ranked. I like this year’s group better.