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 second half of the defensemen in the system.
JOSEPH MASONIUS
Drafted?: 2016, sixth round
2018-19 status: ECHL
2019-20 status: ???
Age: 22
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 190
The Penguins still own the signing rights to Masonius, but those will expire Aug. 15.
It's not clear what happened to Masonius. He left school a year early with the intentions of turning pro in 2018-19 and signed an AHL-level deal with Wilkes-Barre, including an invite to Pittsburgh's camp. He left the first day of Pittsburgh's camp with an apparent injury and never returned. He was released from his contract with Wilkes-Barre in November without playing a game.
Masonius signed an ECHL deal with South Carolina days after being released, played one game, then was released from that contract. Over a month later on Dec. 27, he signed another ECHL contract with Manchester, where he played 12 games to finish the season.
Drafted?: 2017, sixth round
2018-19 status: Jr. A SM-Liiga, Liiga, Mestis
2019-20 status: Liiga
Age: 20
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 175
Quote: “(The ice) is smaller of course, little bit different to play here than in Europe. But it’s always the same hockey.”
Palojarvi played all over the place this season. When I spoke to him at development camp, he expressed confidence in his ability to spend the full year in Liiga, the top men's league in Finland. He didn't stick in Liiga all year, but he did make his Liiga debut, and took great strides in his development.
Palojarvi moved between Lukko of the top league and Lukko's junior affiliate for much of the year, recording four goals and nine assists in 29 junior games and two assists in 16 Liiga games. Unable to stick with the top Lukko team but needing to take the next step for his development, Palojarvi was loaned to SaPKo of the second-tier Mestis league for the remainder of the season. Palojarvi recorded one goal and two assists in seven games with SaPKo, missing some time to injury.
Palojarvi won't make the jump to North American hockey just yet; he'll look to spend a full year in Liiga first. He's young, so he has time.
Drafted?: 2017, third round
2018-19 status: NCAA
2019-20 status: NCAA
Age: 19
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 195
Phillips completed his sophomore year of eligibility this season with the University of Minnesota, but it was only his first full college season. He burned his freshman year of eligibility in 2017-18 when Minnesota brought him in midseason, earlier than anticipated, looking to provide some scoring touch to their struggling defense.
Phillips is one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the system. He's a mobile, transitional, puck-moving defenseman. He's not a big guy, but players like him are increasingly becoming the norm.
During a recent appearance on NHL Network Radio, Bill Guerin said he was happy with Phillips' progress and sounded impressed with how Phillips handled the coaching change at Minnesota between his freshman and sophomore seasons. He said the biggest thing right now for Phillips is just working on his decision-making, learning when to keep things simple and when to take a risk.
Phillips definitely won't be turning pro just yet, given his abbreviated freshman season. It's always, always up to the players whether or not they leave school early to go pro, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Phillips play all four years.
Phillips already has ties to current Penguins -- Jake Guentzel‘s father, Mike, was an associate head coach for Minnesota during Phillips’ freshman year. Phillips also played in the offseason “Da Beauty League” in his hometown of Edina, Minnesota, last summer with Guentzel and Teddy Blueger.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 26
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-0, 185
Quote: "You trust the process. I know they say you have to groom defensemen a little more, so I’m just kind of sticking to that and taking the first couple years as lessons to be learned — how to play defense, focusing on your overall game. You just trust that and move forward."
Prow had a breakout season offensively and was Wilkes-Barre's leading scorer with 18 goals and 32 assists in 74 games.
Points aside, Prow was Wilkes-Barre's best defenseman this season. He was always a big points producer in college, but the points didn't come easily during his last two seasons in Wilkes-Barre. As a result, he focused on growing his overall game during those years, growing stronger defensively. His greatest strength is his skating.
Prow is a little on the smaller side, and doesn't have much of a physical element to his game. That, and his lack of NHL experience is likely why Zach Trotman earned the lone defensive recall this season. Prow is ready to take the next step, though.
WILL REILLY
Drafted?: 2017, seventh round
2018-19 status: NCAA
2019-20 status: NCAA
Age: 21
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-2, 195
Reilly has turned out to be a good find, considering he was the last overall pick in the 2017 draft.
He has good size, is a good skater, and quarterbacks RPI's power play. His offensive production has remained consistent through his first three seasons in college, recording five goals and 13 assists in 33 games this season.
He'll likely remain at RPI for his senior season and will still be something of a project whenever he does turn pro, as any seventh-rounder would be.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: NHL, AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 25
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 190
Riikola played in only 37 NHL games this season but adjusted well to his first professional season in North America, recording two goals and three assists. He was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre in March, and recorded two assists in five games to close out the season.
Riikola will require waivers next season, but that shouldn't matter. Pittsburgh currently has six defensemen under contract for next season, with a trade expected this offseason -- likely fellow Finn Olli Maatta. With restricted free agents Riikola and Marcus Pettersson expected to be given qualifying offers, Riikola should be able to find more playing time next season.
Drafted?: 2014, third round (Columbus)
2018-19 status: ECHL, AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 23
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-2, 210
Quote: "It’s kind of nice getting a clean slate. It’s almost like hitting the reset button. I think it’s a good opportunity for me to come down here to Wheeling and play a ton of games, log some big minutes. I think that’s great for me, I’ve learned so much just in these past three games that I’ve played.”
The Penguins acquired Siebenaler in a mid-season trade for free. The return to Columbus was a conditional seventh-round pick that would only have gone Columbus' way had Siebenaler played in 10 NHL games, a requirement he wasn't expected to meet. He didn't, so the Penguins keep the pick.
Siebenaler had been playing for the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Cleveland before the trade, where he recorded one goal and one assist in 17 games. He played in one game with Wilkes-Barre following the trade, then was assigned to Wheeling due to a crowded Wilkes-Barre blue line. He recorded two assists in seven games with Wheeling before a leg injury March 15 ended his season.
Siebenaler was more of a points producer in juniors, but that hasn't translated much to the pro ranks. When I spoke to him following the trade, he talked about wanting to improve his defensive game to be more successful in professional hockey, something he expects will lead to more offense.
He's a restricted free agent, so he's worth a qualifying offer. He's not going to be one of the guys first in line for a call, but you still need depth guys.
Drafted?: No
2018-19 status: ECHL, AHL (AHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 22
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 200
Quote: “Right now my main goal is to help Wheeling win games. But if any time a call-up happens, I’m going to go up and try to help Wilkes win. Wherever I’m at is where I’m meant to be. So just work hard here and make a difference, and if I get a chance to go up to Wilkes, to play the same way I’m playing here.”
This was Spinozzi's second season in the organization. He spent much of his first professional season as a healthy scratch for Wilkes-Barre, playing in only 16 AHL games before being re-assigned to Wheeling and playing another 12.
This season, Spinozzi began the year in Wheeling, where he was finally able to just play. He led all Nailers defensemen in scoring with 17 goals and 21 assists in 44 games, and earned a five-game stint in Wilkes-Barre midseason.
Spinozzi has earned a regular spot in the AHL by now, whether that be in Wilkes-Barre or another organization.
CHRIS SUMMERS
Drafted?: 2006, first round (Phoenix)
2018-19 status: AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 31
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 210
For the second year, Summers brought a needed veteran presence to a young Wilkes-Barre team.
He played in 59 games, missing significant time midseason with an upper-body injury, and recorded three goals and 13 assists in 59 games.
If Summers returns, he's certainly a candidate for the captaincy in Wilkes-Barre. He's worn the "A" the past two seasons and has extensive pro experience in his career -- 509 AHL games, and 70 NHL games.
Drafted?: 2014, seventh round
2018-19 status: AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 25
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 185
Quote: “Coming into pro hockey, you never want to go to the East Coast league, but I had a really good experience in Wheeling. We had a really, really good team, a really skilled team. I enjoyed my time in Wheeling and I’m definitely glad that I did play those games to gain that confidence in Wheeling and learn in the East Coast league.”
This was Taylor's second professional season, after splitting his rookie year between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre. He played 42 games for Wilkes-Barre this season, recording two goals and six assists.
He's a good skater and a good playmaker, even if he isn't always rewarded on the scoresheet for his efforts. He's a well-rounded defenseman and made progress this year, so he's worth a qualifying offer.
Technically, Taylor did also earn his first NHL call-up this season. He was recalled in a paper transaction in October in a move to maximize the Penguins' cap relief before placing Justin Schultz on long-term injured reserve. Taylor didn't have to report to Pittsburgh, but did receive an NHL paycheck for the one day of his services.
Drafted?: 2010, seventh round (Boston)
2018-19 status: AHL, NHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 28
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-3, 215
Trotman filled his role well this year. He's never been much of an NHL regular -- just 83 games in his seven professional seasons -- but he can step up when needed.
Trotman played only 24 games in Wilkes-Barre this season, missing some time midseason with an injury. His NHL experience and physical play gave him the edge over Prow for the lone call-up this season. He appeared in 13 games with Pittsburgh and recorded 20 hits and 18 blocked shots.
With six NHL defensemen already under contract, Pettersson and Riikola likely to be given qualifying offers, and other AHL defensemen like Prow ready to take the next step, Trotman would struggle to see NHL time if he does re-sign with Pittsburgh. He'll likely walk in free agency.
Drafted?: 2009, fourth round (Ottawa)
2018-19 status: NHL, AHL (NHL contract)
2019-20 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 29
Shoots: Right
Size: 5-10, 185
Wideman was acquired in a deadline deal with the Panthers in exchange for Jean-Sebastien Dea. It was Wideman's fourth organization this season, after playing 19 games with Ottawa, five games with Edmonton, one game with Florida and 16 games with their AHL affiliate in Springfield.
Wideman played just three games with Wilkes-Barre following the trade before suffering a season-ending injury. I don't see any reason to expect Wideman to be re-signed.
Monday: Forwards, Part 1
Tuesday: Forwards, Part 2
Wednesday: Defensemen, Part 1
Tomorrow: Goaltenders
