The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed 2023 first-round pick Brayden Yager to his entry-level contract. Contract details have not yet been released. This move will likely turn Yager pro after a successful four-year career with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He was one of many offensive stars on the Warriors lineup, flanked by players like Jagger Firkus, Denton Mateychyuk, and, this season, Matthew Savoie. Moose Jaw vindicated such a talented lineup with a WHL championship this year, though they fell to third place in the 2024 Memorial Cup. Yager was a crucial piece all year long, tallying 35 goals and 95 points across 57 regular season games, and 27 points in 20 playoff games.
The season was a fantastic encore to Yager’s draft-year performance in 2022-23, when he managed 78 points in 67 games on a, relatively, weaker Moose Jaw lineup. He showed all of the makings of a top prospect, and even earned top-10 and top-five hype from some public sources. He earned the attention with some fantastic playmaking abilities, showing a special ability to orchestrate play even at top speeds. But a lanky six-foot, 170-pound frame had some teams apprehensive come draft day, ultimately pushing Yager to 14th overall.
Only four players selected above Yager have made their NHL debuts – Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Zach Benson – and they’ve each quickly carved out lineup roles. Yager will have the chance to do the same in Pittsburgh’s training camp, and could even wind up an X-factor for an aging Penguins core. But he seems more likely set for a trip to the AHL first, where he could join Moose Jaw teammate Atley Calvert, as well as Tristan Broz and Owen Pickering, as a top prospect fighting for minutes.
Should get minutes with top line but not all year..
I remember hearing about this kid about 5 years ago. Hope he lives up to the hype.
Bunting – Yager – Malkin
Geno doesn’t need to be a 200 foot player anymore and Yager can surely beat Malkin’s faceoff %.
I’m pretty sure he has to go back to juniors if he doesn’t stick in Pittsburgh. I don’t think he can play in the ahl yet.
It’s an interesting case – he’s born six days too late to qualify under the age restrictions (must be 20 by Dec. 31 to play minors) but technically has played in four full WHL seasons; though 2021 was the shortened pandemic season.
I imagine the latter point will make him AHL eligible, hence the tone of this piece, but no official word on his eligibility has come yet.