Penguins forward prospect Brayden Yager is learning on the job
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It might be premature to label Brayden Yager as the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Even if he was their first-round pick (No. 14 overall) in this year’s NHL Draft.
After all, the Penguins have had plenty of first-rounders such as Beau Bennett or Derrick Pouliot whose futures only flickered before being extinguished.
However, management has been taking steps to help ensure Yager’s development gets off to a good start.
The early stages of his tenure with the organization have been intriguing, particularly his first professional game, a 3-2 preseason shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday at PPG Paints Arena. The center scored the shootout goal that secured victory.
Listing slightly to the left wing, Yager leveled out upon arrival at the crease and wired a wrister past goaltender Aaron Dell’s glove.
“I had a move set before I even went,” Yager said. “Just happy that it went in.”
Management seems happy with what the 18-year-old has displayed four days into his first professional training camp. He has been placed on one of three different groups or “teams” within the roster. His squad is led by captain Sidney Crosby.
“It’s not by accident that we have Brayden Yager playing on Sid’s team,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “It’s a great experience for a guy like Brayden to be able to watch Sid and how he carries himself and the things that he does to prepare himself and his routine. (Defenseman Kris Letang) is on that team as well. Those guys provide such great examples of what it takes to be successful in this league, how to be a good pro.”
Yager has absorbed what he can.
“Being on the team, you’re kind of around them, not just on the ice but off the ice,” Yager said. “Just learning how to approach the game and how they take care of their bodies. They spend a lot of time recovering as well. I’ve had some pretty good talks with them, whether it’s in the hot and cold tubs, just chatting about anything. They’re super cool. Obviously, they’re some of the best hockey players in the world. They’ve been super welcoming to me.”
Yager’s immediate future will likely see him return to his junior team, the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League, before the regular season begins. But for the time being, he’s happy to be in the NHL.
“Taking it day by day,” Yager said. “Just getting ready. If I’m called to play, I’m just going to try and be ready.”
First cuts
The Penguins made their first series of cuts from their training camp roster, jettisoning 10 players Monday.
Forwards Matt Filipe, Dillon Hamaliuk, Sam Houde, Jagger Joshua and Evan Vierling, as well as goaltender Taylor Gauthier have been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
Hamaliuk and Gauthier are signed to NHL entry-level contracts. Filipe, Houde, Joshua and Vierling are signed to AHL contracts.
Defenseman Andre Anania (Sudbury Wolves), forward Matthew Soto (Kingston Frontenacs) and goaltender Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes) were assigned to their junior teams in the Ontario Hockey League. All three were in camp as non-roster invitees.
Forward Peter Abbadonato was released from a professional tryout contract (PTO).
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, who is in camp on a PTO, was placed on the injured list. There was no immediate word as to the nature of his ailment. During a 4-3 overtime road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday (the second game in a set of split-squad contests between the two teams), Pysyk logged 18 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time on 23 shifts and recorded three shots on four attempts as well as one blocked shot.
As a member of the Detroit Red Wings, Pysyk missed the 2022-23 season because of a torn Achilles tendon.
Cheverie works behind Penguins’ bench
Appointed in June as a guest coach, Kori Cheverie has been a presence in the early days of camp working on the ice in drills, and during Sunday’s home game, she was stationed behind the home bench.
While the Penguins have had women in front office roles before, it is believed she became the first woman to work from the bench in a coaching capacity during a contest in the history of the franchise.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said Cheverie, who came into the position through the NHL Coaches Association. “They’ve really welcomed me with open arms. This week has been awesome in terms of being at the main camp, of being able to learn what I’ve been able to learn.”
Just prior to the start of camp, Cheverie was named as head coach of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) Montreal franchise.
Her presence with the Penguins as well as the presence of a professional league for women reflect an evolving landscape for hockey regarding females being meaningfully involved in the sport.
“I know for a lot of these guys, they may have never had a female coach before, especially not on the bench,” Cheverie said. “It’s been nothing but true professionalism from the guys (players) and from the entire organization. That’s the way that sports, in general, is going. And really, life, in general, is going that way as well.
“I think the athletes just see me as another coach who is able to give them feedback and help grow their game.”