CRANBERRY, Pa. -- In past prospect features, I've used Teddy Blueger as an NHL player comparison for Penguins forward prospect Chase Yoder.
Both are hard-working, defensive-minded centers, responsible, penalty-kill specialists with above-average faceoff abilities and the ability to chip in offensively occasionally.
Yoder, the Penguins' 21-year-old sixth-round pick in 2020, told me at the Penguins' development camp earlier this month that Blueger is "definitely the type of player that I look to be in the future."
"I like to take pride in the 200-foot game," Yoder added of his game. "I take pride in the little things like faceoffs, blocking shots. And a good locker room guy."
As Yoder prepares for his senior season at Providence College, he's looking to earn an NHL contract with the Penguins in the spring.
Following Yoder throughout the season, his work in the faceoff circle certainly stood out some weeks, like when he went a combined 24-4 (85.7%) in draws in a pair of games against New Hampshire. His final win percentage for the season was a bit more modest -- but still strong -- at 54.5%. That's nothing new for Yoder, who went 53.1% in draws as a sophomore and 51.1% as a freshman. Yoder, who is listed at 5 foot 11 and 185 pounds, pointed to his size as something that he thinks gives him an edge in faceoffs.
"I'm smaller, so I get lower to the ice," he said. "I feel like that's really an advantage for me, and it's something that I always take pride in. If I'm going to play at the next level, that's what it's going to be. It's going to be a reliable face-off guy, a defensive role."
That defensive role is what Yoder has on Providence's third line. The points are secondary, and have been slowly rising throughout Yoder's college career. He scored just three goals and three assists in 25 games as a freshman in 2020-21, then put up five goals and six assists in 38 games as a sophomore. Last year he set career highs with eight goals and seven assists in 37 games.
Two of Yoder's eight goals came shorthanded, nearly identical moves after forcing turnovers:
Continuing to make those strides in his offensive game is Yoder's biggest focus as he enters his senior year.
"I want to take another step offensively," he said. "I've taken a few steps from freshman to sophomore, sophomore to junior, and I'd like to see another another step there offensively."
The Penguins' development staff loves Yoder's reliable, defensive game. But they too want to see him produce at the college level more before he turns pro.
"Defensively, you can put him out there in any situation," Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "He's so trustworthy. He's always on the defensive side of the puck, penalty-killing, faceoffs. I think the next step for him is adding more of an offensive element. This year, going back to Providence, just stepping up the offensive side without cheating defensively, I think he can do it. And I think he's ready for it."
Kostopoulos also called Yoder a "natural leader," and that's something they're trying to cultivate and challenge him to use his voice more.
The members of the Penguins' development staff keep in touch with Yoder fairly frequently throughout the season. Yoder named development coach Brett Hextall and Kostopoulos specifically as individuals he dealt with the most during the year, calling them a "huge help in my development process." They will review Yoder's games with Providence, and clip video to go over with Yoder and provide feedback on what they like and what he can be doing better.
Yoder went back to Providence after development camp to take some classes toward his degree, a finance major with a minor in accounting. In August he'll head back to his home in Fairview, Texas and get back to work training for the season.
Yoder has the makings of a future strong, bottom-six center at the pro level. Being described as "so trustworthy" is something that typically bodes well for a player finding a smooth transition once he does make that jump to pro. Yoder just needs to have a good senior season -- especially offensively -- to make sure that he secures that NHL contract first.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Chase Yoder (left) in a game against Boston University.
