Penguins Well Represented at World Junior Championships

For the first time in years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have quality prospects playing in the World Junior Championships. With three 2023 draft picks between Canada and Finland’s rosters, a Penguins prospect is likely to bring home a medal from this tournament.

The games kicked off with a showdown between the aforementioned countries, with all three Pens' draft picks dressing for the contest. None of them stole the show, but it made one thing very clear: Pittsburgh is finally investing in their future.

Brayden Yager - Playmaker in Progress

The most recent first round draft pick of the Penguins is impressing in his first season since being selected. In just 28 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, he has 17 goals and 41 points, exactly the type of offensive jump the Penguins were hoping to see in his post-draft campaign. The organization loves his two-way game, and that's a huge reason why he made Canada's team as well.

In the team's opening matchup, Yager played mostly in a bottom six role. Slotted on the right wing, he skated for around 10 minutes of ice time alongside fellow 2023 draftee Matthew Wood and presumptive 2024 number one pick, Macklin Celebrini. 

Still, when he was on the ice, he was noticeable. This matchup was notable due to the NHL-level talent on both sides. His tenacious work ethic came through despite his reduced ice time, forcing a turnover and helping to set up Celebrini's goal to put Canada up 3-1. While he wasn't given an assist on the play, that goal doesn't happen without Yager's effort and playmaking abilities. 

All in all, the Penguins have to be pleased with their top prospect's first outing in the tournament. Sure, they'd love to see him earn a larger role, but Canada is loaded with talented skaters and ice time is hard to come by. If he can keep working hard, his line figures to be a key contributor to a gold medal run. 

Finnish Defense

Team Finland is an underdog in this tournament, but they have a bevy of future NHL'ers on their roster. For Pittsburgh, they only care about two names: Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas. The pair of defenders were selected in the third and seventh round, respectively, of the most recent draft and are both projecting to one day be NHL defenders for the Penguins.

Kangas is enjoying a productive first season playing in the second highest league in Finland, the Mestis (Champions) League, with six points through 33 games. He's a big-bodied defender who has the makings of a bottom pairing, penalty killing specialist.

Pieniniemi is the real standout of the two players, with the makeup of a middle pairing defender who can log minutes on both special teams. Playing in the Finnish Elite League this season, he's put up four points in 23 games. For Team Finland, he is playing on the second pairing and in all situations. He was a minus-2 against a challenging Canada team, but he was able to show off his smooth skating ability on several occasions.

Benefitting from the larger ice surface, he was able to be a one man breakout several times, skating smoothly and confidently with the puck. He certainly doesn't overwhelm you with any one skill or trait, but he's as solid an 18-year-old defender as they come. If Finland has any hopes of medaling in this tournament, they'll need more contributions from players like Pieniniemi.