As we head into the offseason, it’s time to take a look at where the Penguins’ prospect pool stands.
Just as I did last year, I’ll break down the status of each prospect in the Penguins system, including players on Pittsburgh contracts and players on AHL-level deals who spent time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this past season.
I’ll take a look at their contracts for next season and where they are likely to play, as well as highlights from each player. If I interviewed the player this season, I’ll also share my favorite quote of the season from them.
Today, we look at the first half of the defensemen in the system.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: AHL (AHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-4, 180
Quote: “I came into camp thinking I’ve got nothing to lose here. Just go in, play your game, and if they think that there’s a spot that I could step into, then that’s great. If not, then maybe I’d end up in Wheeling. I’m really happy that I did get the opportunity to stay here. I think things have gone well since. … I’m just kind of taking it day by day, but I’m really happy with the season so far.”
Abt joined the organization at the end of the 2017-18 season following the conclusion of his senior year at RIT, signing a tryout with the Nailers. 2018-19 was his first full professional season and he spent the entire year in the AHL.
Abt is lean, but he's still a heavy hitter. He has a long reach thanks to that 6-4 frame, and he's a good skater period, not just a good skater for his size. His plus-7 rating was third among Wilkes-Barre defensemen, and his 12 assists in 63 games ranked fourth among defensemen.
I'd like to see Abt back, if only on another AHL deal. He made great strides as a rookie, and it can't hurt to have a big puck-moving defenseman like him in the system.
Drafted?: 2018, second round
2018-19 status: WHL
2019-20 status: WHL (NHL contract)
Age: 19
Shoots: Right
Size: 5-10, 180
Addison put up nearly an identical stat line in 2018-19 as he did in 2017-18. He recorded 11 goals, 54 assists and 52 penalty minutes in 67 games this season -- just one fewer penalty minute and one fewer game than the season before. Pretty odd.
Bill Guerin recently compared Addison to a "new-age NHL defenseman" on an NHL Network Radio appearance, saying that teams now aren't as focused on size as they are a player's mobility and agility. While Addison is on the smaller side, he's a great puck-mover and he can skate. The organization is high on him.
Addison joined Wilkes-Barre as a Black Ace this spring following Lethbridge's elimination from the playoffs, and recorded two assists in three games.
At Addison's age, he's not yet eligible to play in the AHL for a full season because of the NHL's transfer agreement with the CHL. He'd either have to play in the NHL full-time, or return to juniors. He's not ready to make the jump to the NHL, so he must play in the WHL next season. In 2020-21, he'll be eligible to play in Wilkes-Barre.
Drafted?: 2016, fifth round
2018-19 status: Liiga
2019-20 status: ???
Age: 20
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 180
Quote: “I think it’s nice to have Finns (at development camp). In the AHL, I was alone with all the Swedes. That was not nice.”
Almari has been playing professionally in Finland for the past three seasons, with the last two being almost exclusively in Liiga, Finland's top men's league.
It's a low-scoring league, especially for defensemen, and Almari isn't exactly one to put up many points. This season, he scored one goal and four assists in 42 games.
Almari is someone who Penguins director of player development Scott Young has said has "big potential" in the organization. They like their puck-moving defensemen.
Almari hasn't yet been signed -- his HPK club is currently in the final round of the Liiga playoffs. Nothing is official yet, but I'd expect him to be in Wilkes-Barre next season. When I spoke with Almari last summer, he said that he had the option to play in the AHL this season, but chose to go back to Finland for another year.
Drafted?: 2013, sixth round
2018-19 status: ECHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: AHL (NHL contract)
Age: 23
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-2, 200
Quote: “You just want to make a name for yourself, being your first year. You just want to do whatever (coaches) tell you, and be an elite prospect for them no matter where you are — whether it’s in Wilkes-Barre or Wheeling. It doesn’t matter where you are, you’re still going to play the same and try to do what they tell you to do.”
Birks was the only Penguins draft pick playing for the Nailers this season. In 65 games, he scored one goal and 13 assists.
Birks is a good skater and a puck-moving defenseman, but he also has a good physical element to his game and is strong on the puck for his size. He was one of the Nailers' top penalty killers.
Birks joined Wilkes-Barre as a Black Ace at the end of the season, and was scoreless in one game. He should be there full-time next season.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 28
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-3, 210
Czuczman got a later start to the season after having offseason shoulder surgery. Originally expected to be out of the lineup until December, he played his first game of the season on Nov. 2. In 65 games, Czuczman recorded four goals and 17 assists.
Czuczman was a reliable veteran presence on Wilkes-Barre's blue line. He likely would have been the first defenseman recalled if a left-handed shot was needed, but one was never needed. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the same capacity next season, but he's also replaceable.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 24
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-0, 195
Erkamps was acquired from the Senators in December along with forward Ben Sexton in exchange for defenseman Stefan Elliott and forward Tobias Lindberg. Before the trade, Erkamps had spent the entire season in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast.
Following the trade, he spent the remainder of the year in the AHL, albeit as a healthy scratch for some games. He appeared in 24 games for Wilkes-Barre, registering four assists and a minus-3 rating.
Erkamps is a restricted free agent, and he's probably worth a qualifying offer. He was more of an AHL regular in 2017-18, so he has it in him. Even though he's not one of the first in line for an NHL spot, you still need depth guys.
Drafted?: 2009, first round (Calgary)
2018-19 status: AHL (AHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 28
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 200
This season was Erixon's second stint with Wilkes-Barre, having previously played two seasons with the team from 2015-17.
Erixon didn't have a full contract for most of the year. He was staying in the Wilkes-Barre area over the summer because his fiancee is from the area. He was still close with coach Clark Donatelli and skated with the team during camp as a courtesy. He was signed to a tryout contract during camp, and only played 15 games up until Feb. 4, after which he was signed to a full AHL contract. He played in 13 games to close out the season and finished the year with five assists and a plus-6 rating.
I wouldn't expect Erixon to be back, but if he goes unsigned and is still hanging around Wilkes-Barre by September, he could be given another tryout deal. Erixon is Swedish, and a return to the SHL might not be a bad idea either.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: ECHL (AHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 27
Shoots: Right
Size: 5-11, 180
Quote: “I feel proud to be able to play that long. It feels good that the organization has kept me around this long; I’m just proud of it.”
Fick became the all-time games-played leader for the Nailers this season, with 258 games over four seasons. During that time he's only played three games in the AHL -- a two-game stint with San Antonio at the end of the 2016-17 season, and one game with Wilkes-Barre this season.
Fick isn't a guy who is going to end up in Europe at this stage of his career. He played his first professional season in Norway after graduating from Harvard in 2014, and he isn't interested in returning after a less-than-stellar experience. He's expressed to me that his goal at this point is still the AHL. I'm not sure that he could find a regular AHL job in another organization. He genuinely enjoys Wheeling, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him back as captain.
Drafted?: 2016, fourth round
2018-19 status: NCAA
2019-20 status: NCAA
Age: 22
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 185
In the above clip, Jones is the defenseman wearing No. 20 who makes the play at the blue line.
Jones completed his junior season with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a team that went 9-24-3 in the regular season and was swept in the NCHC Quarterfinal, the first round.
Jones spent the season on the top defense pairing, and recorded 12 assists in 36 games. His minus-32 rating, the worst on the team, is reflective of the minutes he played, not necessarily his individual play.
I wouldn't expect Jones to leave school a year early, just because he's spoken on the importance of getting his degree. That decision is always left up to the players themselves.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: NCAA
2019-20 status: AHL (AHL contract)
Age: 23
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 200
Kim was a college free agent signing this spring following his senior season at Boston College. He joined Wilkes-Barre on an amateur deal to finish the season and recorded one assist in two games. He's signed to a full AHL-level contract for the 2019-20 season.
Kim recorded three goals and 12 assists in 39 games his senior year, and 14 goals, 48 assists through 140 games over all four years.
Drafted?: 2017, second round
2018-19 status: Did not play
2019-20 status: ???
Age: 20
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 195
Lauzon sustained a concussion in April 2017, and he has not yet recovered.
Still dealing with post-concussion issues and a lingering neck injury, Lauzon returned too early in the 2017-18 season and played 25 regular season games spaced out over three stints. Each time, he suffered from neck pain, dizziness, and headaches. He played in five playoff games for the Huskies before being forced to sit out for the remainder of the season.
Lauzon was working toward a December return this season, but was unable to resume skating with the team and was shut down for the entire season.
The Penguins lose their signing rights to Lauzon if they don't sign him this summer. At his age, he'd have to turn pro if signed. He can't go back to the QMJHL.
Lauzon is still training as if he plans on playing hockey again. I don't know how that happens with his history.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: NCAA
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 24
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 215
Lizotte was a free agent invite to the Penguins' development camp last summer. In an interview with the Grand Forks Herald, Lizotte said that while he received interest from multiple teams throughout the year, the Penguins indicated the most interest. When his college career at St. Cloud State ended, Lizotte joined Wilkes-Barre on an amateur tryout contract.
He appeared in three games with Wilkes-Barre in the spring, recording one goal and one assist.
Lizotte is a shutdown defenseman, a skilled penalty killer. His one goal with Wilkes-Barre matches his output in all 39 games in college this season. He recorded a total of 10 goals and 36 assists in 147 games over his four college seasons.
I'd expect Lizotte to be signed in some capacity, if even just to an AHL contract. There aren't many big, physical, shutdown defensive prospects like him in the system.
Monday: Forwards, Part 1
Tuesday: Forwards, Part 2
Tomorrow: Defensemen, Part 2
Friday: Goaltenders
