I have not been able to use the computer, so this will be my first attempt at typing up a post using the app on the tablet. I am still not fond of typing on a touchscreen, but I did figure out how to copy and paste do that I can just update and replace the relevant data.
With March upon us there are only a few weeks of regular season remaining for our prospects. Here we go, a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects playing in Europe, juniors, and in the NCAA.
Goaltender
Alex D’Orio – 11-5-0 record with a 2.43 GAA and 90.0 Sv% with Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
A 19-year-old undrafted netminder who signed with the Pens in 2017. He began the season with the Saint John Sea Dogs, going 5-17-3 with a 4.48 GAA and 88.3 Sv%, but was traded in January. While he did outperform the other goaltenders in Saint John, and his numbers have improved since the trade, he is currently being outplayed by one of Baie-Comeau’s other goalies. Baie-Comeau is currently 1st in the East Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference, and 4th in the QMJHL with a 43-14-3 record.
Defensemen
Ryan Jones – 9 assists and a -25 in 30 games as a Junior with University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference
A 22-year-old 2016 4th round pick. He has been a bit streaky, going on long scoreless stretches before having a couple of hot weekends and then cooling off again. He is just slightly behind his scoring pace from last year and his plus/minus is at an all-time low. 4 of his assists were scored on the PP. He is the 2nd highest scoring D but has the worst plus/minus on his team by far. UNO is currently 8th in the NCHC with a 5-14-1 Conference record (9-19-2 overall).
Niclas Almari – 1 goal, 5 points, and a -4 in 40 games with Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho of the Liiga in Finland
A 20-year-old 2016 5th round pick. He spent a weekend playing for the U20 at the end of September and missed most of October due to injury but he has been back in the adult league since mid-November. His goal and 2 of his assists were scored on the PP. He has been getting more minutes lately, including some work on both the PP and PK, but is still primarily a 3rd pairing D. His scoring pace is a little below where he was last year. HPK is currently 7th in the Liiga with an 22-7-7-19 record.
Zachary Lauzon – 0 games with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
A 20-year-old 2017 2nd round pick. The team announced in January that he hadn’t even started skating yet and would not return to play this year, but they kept him on the roster and he continues to travel with the team as a full member of the Huskies. He has been dealing with a recurring neck injury that cut his season short last year. Rouyn-Noranda is currently 1st in the West Division, 1st in the Western Conference, and 1st in the QMJHL with a 52-7-1 record.
Clayton Phillips – 1 goal, 10 points, and a -9 in 29 games as a Sophomore with University of Minnesota Golden Gophers of Big Ten
A 19-year-old 2017 3rd round pick. 4 of his assists were scored on the PP. He is the 2nd best scoring D on the team but the worst plus/minus amongst blueliners. He only played half a season last year, so he is looking much improved this time. Minnesota is currently 2nd in the B1G with an 11-10-3 Conference record (14-15-4 overall).
Antti Palojärvi – 4 goals, 13 points, and a -6 in 29 games with Rauman Lukko U20 of the Nuorten SM-liiga in Finland
A 19-year-old 2017 6th round pick. 4 of his assists were scored on the PP. He has set new career highs in goals, points, and plus/minus. He spent more time up with the adult club, now having dressed in 16 games where he has 2 points and a +2, but he usually dresses as a non-playing 7th D. He also had a short loan to Savonlinnan Pallokerho in the Mestis where he had a goal, an assist, and a +3 in 6 games. The U20 league is split into upper and lower groupings after the first half, making it difficult to compare his numbers against his teammates. Lukko U20 was dead last #18 at the end of the alkusarja (first series) with an 8-2-4-20 record but are currently 4th in the alempi jatkosarja (lower series) with a 6-5-0-5 record.
William Reilly – 5 goals, 16 points, and a +1 in 29 games as a Junior with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers of ECAC Hockey
A 21-year-old 2017 7th round pick. 1 of his goals and 4 of his assists were scored on the PP. He is the top scoring D on his team and had the 2nd best plus/minus. He has set new career highs in points and plus/minus this season. He is currently #70 in points amongst all NCAA D. RPI is currently 10th in the ECAC with a 7-11-2 Conference record (10-19-3 overall).
Calen Addison – 11 goals, 59 points, and a -6 in 60 games with Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.
An 18-year-old 2018 2nd round pick. 2 of his goals and 29 of his assists were scored on the PP. If he continues at his current pace he should surpas last year’s point total. He is the top scoring D on his team but has the next to worst plus/minus amongst blue liners. He is currently #11 in goals and #5 in points amongst WHL D. Lethbridge is currently 2nd in the Central Division, 5th in the Eastern Conference, and 8th in the WHL with a 33-18-10 record.
Forwards
Nikita Pavlychev – 13 goals, 27 points, and a +1 in 33 games as a Junior with Penn State University Nittany Lions of Big Ten Hockey Conference
A 21-year-old 2015 7th round pick. He had a strong start to the year, setting career highs in both goals and points, but his pace tailed off considerably from mid-November to mid-February. 5 of his goals and 3 of his assists were scored on the PP. He is now just 7th in goals and 6th in points on his team as well as the 7th best plus/minus amongst forwards. He is currently #48 in goals and #78 in points in the entire NCAA. He is also #72 in FO% having won 239 of 438 at 54.6%. Penn State is currently 5th in the B1G with a 10-12-1 Conference record (18-13-2 overall).
Kasper Björkqvist – 14 goals, 25 points, and a +13 in 35 games as a Junior with Providence College Friars of the Hockey East Association
A 21-year-old 2016 2nd round pick. 5 of his goals and 4 of his assists were scored on the PP while 1 of his goals was scored shorthanded. He already set a new career high in points and could surpass last year’s goal total too. He leads his team in goals, is 4th in points, and has the 2nd best plus/minus amongst forwards. He is #34 in goals and #97 in points in the entire NCAA and is #32 in plus/minus amongst forwards. Providence is currently 2nd in the HEA with a 13-7-3 Conference record (20-9-6 overall).
Jan Drozg – 19 goals, 52 points, and a -31 in 53 games with Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
A 19-year-old 2017 5th round pick. 9 of his goals and 14 of his assists were scored on the PP. He has already set new career highs in goals and points. He is 2nd in goals and leads the team in points but only 3 regular forwards have a worse plus/minus. Shawinigan is currently 4th in the Central Division, 8th in the Western Conference, and 16th in the QMJHL with a 14-43-4 record.
Jordan Bellerive – 28 goals, 73 points, and a +18 in 62 games with Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League
A 19-year-old undrafted forward who signed with the Pens in 2017. 8 of his goals and 13 of his assists were scored on the PP while 1 goal was scored shorthanded. It looks quite unlikely that he will meet last year’s scoring pace, but his plus/minus is a new career best. He is 5th in goals and 4th in points on his team and has the 3rd best plus/minus amongst forwards. He is currently #13 in points in the WHL. Lethbridge is currently 2nd in the Central Division, 4th in the Eastern Conference, and 8th in the WHL with a 34-18-10 record.
Filip Hållander – 7 goals, 17 points, and a -5 in 39 games with Timrå Idrottsklubb of the Swedish Hockey League
An 18-year-old 2018 2nd round pick. He skates 2nd line minutes with some work on the PP, although he is just behind last year’s scoring pace. He is 6th in goals and 7th in points on his team and has the 4th best plus/minus amongst regular forwards. He is currently #5 in goals and points amongst juniors playing in the adult league. Timra is currently dead last 14th in the SHL with a 9-5-4-28 record.
Justin Almeida – 25 goals, 89 points, and an +13 in 56 games with Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League
A 19-year-old 2018 5th round pick. 12 of his goals and 28 of his assists were scored on the PP while 2 goals and 2 assists were scored shorthanded. He hasn’t reached it yet but is closing in on last year’s point total with fewer games played. He is 3rd in goals and 2nd in points as well as the 3rd best plus/minus amongst forwards. He is currently #6 in points in the WHL. Moose Jaw is currently 3rd in the East Division, 5th in the Eastern Conference, and 8th in the WHL with a 34-18-8 record.
Liam Gorman – Senior at St. Sebastian’s School of the Independent School League
An 18-year-old 2018 6th round pick. I can’t find any player stats, the one site I found wants me to buy a subscription to view the data and the school’s website just lists the result of the games not even goal scorers. All I know is that he is a Senior captain for his team. However I did find league standings, St. Sebastian’s Prep was 2nd in the Keller Division with a 11-2-0 Conference record (21-5-0 overall).
WonderPens Blog Too 