Pens' Should Let Brayden Yager Play... Now!

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Hazem Alsahlani - Follow him on Twitter @Hazzyness

Despite the Penguins recent additions, they remain an older team, with nearly half its roster over 30 years old. Moreover, the Penguins have no high-end forward prospects in the system. Correction, they have one: 

Brayden Yager. 

Since 2018, the Penguins have been loath to give younger players opportunities to grow and develop on the roster. One can argue they have not had many young players that warranted a spot on the roster to grow and develop. Until now. 

Brayden Yager is the type of player the Penguins need to play, immediately. Unless he has a disastrous camp and preseason, the Penguins need Yager for several reasons. First, they need youth, energy, and skill that he would offer. He has an NHL-caliber shot, which would work well alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Second, they need more scoring options. We’ve heard the phrase “top-heavy” which is an apt description of the Penguins current scoring options. Aside from the top six, there are limited scoring options. Playing Yager immediately would allow Mike Sullivan to move Bryan Rust to a third line role, which will better suit him as he gets older. Rust would bring grit, energy, scoring, and leadership to the third line, which is something they have lacked since 2017. 

So, the question then becomes, can Yager thrive in a top six role. Obviously, that question remains to be seen but it is worth a shot. Skeptics will likely point to his youth, inexperience, and frame – and believe he needs to grow and develop in juniors or the AHL. Assuming Yager proves to be a competent player during camp and preseason, give him a shot. What better way to develop than to play with two responsible, supremely talented two-way players like Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel?

As is the case with all young players, coaches will focus on improving Yager’s defensive game, so he is not a liability on the ice. In other words, they do not want another Kasperi Kapanen. I believe Yager can be an asset to the Penguins due to his skill, energy, and powerful shot. The skill outweighs the potential defensive liability. Defensive responsibility will improve over time and will likely be expedited playing alongside responsible players like Crosby and Guentzel.

There are several examples of Penguins players seeing the ice right away, such as Olli Maatta and Jordan Staal. Yager will not have the type of pressure to perform like another first round pick might, because Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Jarry absorb nearly all the criticism or praise based on the team’s performance. Less pressure should allow Yager to play freely, which is what the Penguins need. A young, skillful forward to reinvigorate the aging roster, while also complimenting what they can still offer.

While Mike Sullivan will almost assuredly send Yager back to juniors or the minors, he should seriously consider playing Yager and allowing him to develop this season. The Penguins do not have time to wait three years for a potential impact player to develop. Brayden Yager should be told to sink or swim. My guess is he will swim.