As we head into the offseason, it's time to take a look at where the Penguins' prospect pool stands.
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.
I'll take a look at their contract statuses for next season and where they are likely to play. If I interviewed the player this season, I'll also share my favorite quote of the season from them.
Today, we look at the forwards in the system.
2017-18 contract: NCAA, then amateur tryout contract in WBS
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 22
Position: Center
Drafted?: 2014, fifth round
Angello joined Wilkes-Barre following the conclusion of his junior season at Cornell. He played in two regular season games and two postseason games, and scored his first two professional goals in Wilkes-Barre's final game of the season. Angello is a big, physical, playmaking, bottom-six center.
His entry-level contract kicks in next year, and he'll spend it in Wilkes-Barre.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 23
Quote: "I just kind of try to stick with it and play the same way, play hard the same way I had been before I got called up so hopefully I get another chance."
Position: Center
Drafted?: 2012, second round
Blueger completed his second full professional season in Wilkes-Barre and tripled his goal total from the previous season, scoring 21 in 70 games. Blueger spent a short time in Pittsburgh this season, but is still waiting for his NHL debut. Another summer working on his skating and lower-body strength should put him in a better position for next season.
Blueger, if re-signed, will still be exempt from waivers next season.
Jarrett Burton
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 27
Position: Center
Drafted?: No
Burton has been in the Penguins' minor-league system since signing with Wheeling in 2014 at the end of his college career. For the past three seasons, he's split time between Wilkes-Barre and Wheeling. He only played five games in Wheeling this season and 52 in Wilkes-Barre, spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch.
A center, Burton has been strong in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill for Wilkes-Barre, in addition to being one of the team's veterans. He's a career minor-leaguer, but could still help Wilkes-Barre's bottom-six if they choose to bring him back next season.
Joseph Cramarossa
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Position: Center, wing
Drafted?: 2011, third round, Anaheim
Wilkes-Barre traded for Cramarossa in February, sending Colin Smith to the Stockton Heat. Cramarossa recorded six goals and six assists in his 28 games with the team after the trade.
Cramarossa is versatile and can play both center and wing, but I'm not sure Wilkes-Barre would use one of their forward spots on Cramarossa next season.
Jean-Sebastien Dea
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 24
Position: Center, right wing
Drafted?: No
Dea had a successful season with Wilkes-Barre, recording 18 goals and 32 assists in 70 games. He played five games in Pittsburgh and scored one goal.
As with this season, if Dea returns, he will require waivers.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 24
Quote: "Growing up in Italy I always remember Pittsburgh was the one team that I stayed up until 1 a.m. 'cause of the time change to watch. Mostly because of Crosby."
Position: Center, wing
Drafted?: 2012, fourth round, Washington
Di Pauli only played in 21 games in his rookie 2016-17 season, electing to have back surgery. He would have needed the surgery at some point, and chose to get it done. He played in 58 games this season, and recorded 12 goals and eight assists before sustaining an upper-body injury at the end of the season.
If Di Pauli returns, he will not require waivers next season.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Position: Right wing
Drafted?: No
Quote: "It wasn't the start of the season I wanted. Not being a draft pick or anything like that, just keeping my head down, working hard, being a teammate for the first bit of the season. When I got the chance to make an impact on the lineup I really wanted to make the most of it. I felt like I did for the most part."
Haggerty only played 47 games this season due to an injury at midseason, but he was one of Wilkes-Barre's best players on the ice when he was healthy, scoring 16 goals and 21 assists.
He's more than earned an NHL contract, and will likely sign one this offseason. He's a right wing, and might not be a player that Pittsburgh needs, so he might find that contract with another organization.
I asked head coach Clark Donatelli at the midpoint of the season if he believed Haggerty earned an NHL deal:
"Haggerty has been playing extremely well," Donatelli said. "He plays hard, he's going to the net, he's got a great NHL shot. If he continues to do what he's doing and consistently keeps playing, for sure. He's playing well, he's off to a great start, and he's playing the right way. Not just the scoring. He's getting in on the forecheck, he's playing physical, he's blocking shots, his wall play's good."
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 23
Position: Center, left wing
Drafted?: No
Quote: "I think if I work, they'll give me the opportunity if I earn it. I just gotta keep working towards that."
Johnson had a successful rookie campaign with Wilkes-Barre, tallying 11 goals and 20 assists in 70 games, in addition to one goal in Wilkes-Barre's three playoff games.
Johnson's main issue is his size. He's tall at 6-foot, but very slender. Another offseason in the weight room should help him for his sophomore season.
Josh Jooris
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 27
Position: Center, wing
Drafted?: No
The Penguins acquired Jooris in February in a trade that sent Greg McKegg to Carolina.
Jooris was just fine after the trade, and played nine games in Pittsburgh. He played six games in Wilkes-Barre, and recorded one goal. I don't see the Penguins re-signing him, though.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Retired
Age: 39
Position: Wing
Drafted?: 1999, seventh round
Quote: "Pittsburgh has done such a good job of drafting and signing young guys that are good players but also good people. To see them come into Wilkes-Barre and work as hard as they do and develop as fast as they are, a big group of them to go up and win two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh, and now this next young wave of players coming up, it's very fulfilling to see them go up and play well in the NHL."
Kostopoulos will be greatly missed next season. Many of Wilkes-Barre's young players compared his role to that of a coach, and said he was a good go-between for the players and coaching staff.
Kostopoulos did tell me he'd be interested in a coaching or player development position eventually, but he didn't divulge any plans to jump into a role like that immediately. He has two young children, and his focus is spending time with them for now.
Pat McGrath
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Position: Right wing
Drafted?: No
McGrath is Wilkes-Barre's pest, and it's a role he's held with Wilkes-Barre or Wheeling for the past five seasons.
He only played in 19 games this season, spending the bulk of the season as a healthy scratch. A big reason that he keeps getting brought back is that he's a local kid, and the first Wilkes-Barre native to suit up for the team.
As much as the fans love him, the sport is moving away from players like McGrath, and I'd be surprised if he's brought back on an AHL contract.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 22
Position: Center, left wing
Drafted?: No
Quote: "We didn't have very many teams growing up (in Vegas), it was usually just unorganization the entire time. Not too many kids were playing."
Quinney played much of this season on a line with Daniel Sprong and Garrett Wilson, and it was one of the team's strongest lines. Quinney himself scored 14 goals and 19 assists in 57 games. In his rookie season in Wheeling, he recorded almost a point-per-game, scoring 18 goals and 26 assists in 45 games.
He's adjusted to the AHL well, he's still young, and still has time to develop. He's a forward I'd like to see brought back.
Tom Sestito
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 30
Position: Left wing
Drafted?: 2006, third round, Columbus
Sestito spent a good part of this season injured, and only played in 37 games. He's not just a goon when he's in Wilkes-Barre and still put up six goals and nine assists. Last season, he scored six goals and 10 assists in 33 games.
He said on locker room clean-out day that he'd like to come back to Wilkes-Barre next season, but will talk it over with his family first.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 21
Position: Right wing
Drafted?: 2015, second round
Sprong said himself on clean-out day he's never going to be the 200-foot player that people want him to be, but he's still a more well-rounded player after this season. He still makes mistakes; however, he's gotten better over the course of the year and puts more effort into backchecking.
It's up to Sprong at this point to see how much work he puts in over the summer and where he is come training camp. He'll require waivers next season, so the Penguins likely won't have the luxury of moving him up and down over the course of the season.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Position: Right wing
Drafted?: 2010, second round, New York Rangers
Quote: "It was unbelievable. It was the third game. It was nice to put one in, now I can say I have a goal in the Olympics. It was a moment I'll never forget."
Thomas probably could have earned an NHL contract with other organizations this season, but he chose to sign an AHL deal to stay eligible for the Olympics, and the move paid off. He won bronze with Team Canada, in addition to winning the Spengler Cup, a tournament used for Olympic evaluation.
In addition to the international tournaments, Thomas played in 51 games in Wilkes-Barre and recorded 18 goals and 16 assists. He'd be welcome back in Wilkes-Barre, but my guess is he'd leave for an organization where he can have a bigger role.
Garrett Wilson
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 27
Position: Left wing
Drafted?: 2009, fourth round, Florida
With the departure of captain Tom Kostopoulos, I'd expect Garrett Wilson to be named the captain of the Penguins in 2018-19. Wilson wore the "A" on his jersey for the past two seasons in Wilkes-Barre, and was also an alternate captain in San Antonio and Portland prior to that.
He recorded 17 goals and 25 assists in 69 games this year, and won the team's Media Award as voted on by the writers. He requires waivers, which makes it unlikely that he'd be moved up and down by Pittsburgh.
Kostopoulos leaves big shoes to fill, but the team would be in good hands with Wilson.
Jordy Bellerive
2017-18 contract: WHL
2018-19 status: WHL
Age: 19
Position: Center
Drafted?: No
Bellerive isn't yet eligible for the AHL given his age, and he's not quite ready to be in the NHL yet. The Penguins won't want to rush him, so he'll stay in juniors another year.
He had a monster season for Lethbridge, and led the team in scoring by a margin of almost 30 points. He scored 46 goals and 46 assists in 71 games, and tallied another nine goals and 16 assists in 16 postseason games. His Lethbridge Hurricanes were eliminated in the third round of the WHL playoffs this year.
Bellerive plays a very physical game and records a lot of shots, elements that should translate well to the professional game when the time comes. A high penalty minute total is expected given his style of play and the league he's in, but he still has room to improve as far as discipline goes.
2017-18 contract: NCAA
2018-19 status: NCAA
Age: 20
Position: Wing
Drafted?: 2016, second round
Bjorkqvist will be entering his junior year at Providence College in the fall. His freshman year, he recorded three goals and six assists in 30 games. This season, he set new career highs with 16 goals and seven assists in 40 games.
He was drafted in 2016 out of the Finnish U20 league, and this time in college should help him become more acclimated to the North American game.
Jan Drozg
2017-18 contract: QMJHL, then amateur tryout contract in WBS
2018-19 status: QMJHL
Age: 19
Position: Wing
Drafted?: 2017, fifth round
Drozg put up good numbers this season in the high-scoring QMJHL, despite being on a less-than-stellar Shawinigan Cataractes team, scoring 16 goals and 34 assists in 61 games.
He previously struggled with the defensive side of his game in his native Slovenia, and moved to Swedish hockey to try to improve his defensive play there, before moving to North America to play junior hockey in the QMJHL. The QMJHL is not the optimal league for a player like him to further develop his 200-foot game, so he might have a tough time when he does turn pro.
He won't be spending next season in Wilkes-Barre just yet, but he did play one game with Wilkes-Barre after the conclusion of Shawinigan's season this year. He recorded one assist and was a plus-1 in the game.
Sam Miletic
2017-18 contract: OHL
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 20
Position: Left wing, center
Drafted?: No
Miletic was signed to an entry-level contract last fall, and it will take effect next season.
The 20-year-old center was an undrafted free agent who earned a three-year contract with the Penguins after development camp, rookie tournament, and training camp this past summer. He spent time in Niagara and London this season, and recorded a total 36 goals and 56 assists in 63 games.
With Miletic turning 21 this May, he will be unable to return to the OHL next season and will likely begin his professional career in Wilkes-Barre. Not many players who remain in the OHL long enough to be overage players end up seeing much success in the NHL, so it remains to be seen how Miletic’s success will translate to professional hockey.
2017-18 contract: NCAA, then amateur tryout contract in WBS
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 23
Position: Center, left wing
Drafted?: 2014, fourth round
Quote: "I couldn't be more excited to join the organization. It's going to be a great opportunity, and I'm looking forward to playing with guys who have been doing this for a long time, and learning from them. It should be a lot of fun."
Lafferty's pro career will begin next season in Wilkes-Barre. He did join Wilkes-Barre on an amateur tryout agreement this season, following the conclusion of his senior year at Brown. He played nine games, and recorded one goal and two assists. He was released before the season's end after sustaining an injury, but he should be back in time for development camp.
Lafferty, a center, killed penalties and showed a strong hockey sense during his time at Brown.
2017-18 contract: SHL, then amateur tryout contract in WBS
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 20
Position: Center
Drafted?: 2017, fifth round
Olund was just drafted in 2017 at age 20, making him a late bloomer. He spent this season in the SHL, and recorded eight goals and 15 assists in 51 games. He joined Wilkes-Barre on an amateur tryout contract at the tail end of the season, but did not get to play a game.
Olund plays a strong two-way game, and the Penguins see him as a potential future bottom-6 center. He'll have to work on his skating in Wilkes-Barre next season.
2017-18 contract: NCAA
2018-19 status: NCAA
Age: 21
Position: Center
Drafted?: 2015, seventh round
6-foot-7 center Pavlychev will play his junior season at Penn State next season.
He's a strong two-way player, but has been putting up good offensive numbers, too. His freshman campaign he scored six goals and seven assists in 36 games. This season, he scored nine goals and five assists in 35 games.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: NHL contract
Age: 22
Position: Left wing, center
Drafted?: 2015, sixth round
Quote: "When things don't go your way, you really tend to focus on all the bad things in your life. Then you just have to switch your mental aspects around and just look at the good things, because there are so many good things happening. I just try to focus on the good things."
Tiffels had a crazy first pro year, moving up and down between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre 12 times by my count. He put up 16 goals and 17 assists in 44 games with Wheeling, and two goals and one assist in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre.
It was rumored that DEL club Kölner Haie was targeting Tiffels for next season, but he is still under contract with Pittsburgh, and he reiterated to me his goal is still to make the NHL.
Some stability next season will be good for Tiffels' development. He's earned his spot in Wilkes-Barre by now.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 23
Position: Center
Drafted?: 2013, seventh round
Quote: "I honestly believe I'm going to fit well in their system moving forward, moving from Wheeling to Wilkes. The hope is, of course, always making it to the NHL, whether it be Pittsburgh or somewhere else, but this organization has been unbelievable and they do everything they can to help weed guys through and get them to the next level."
Josephs was the Penguins' seventh-round pick in 2013. He never signed an NHL deal with Pittsburgh, so the Penguins don't have exclusive rights to him. He instead signed an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre out of college and just completed his first full professional season.
Josephs was scoreless in four games with Wilkes-Barre this season but saw success in Wheeling as a strong two-way center. He scored 16 goals and 20 assists in 43 games with the Nailers.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 27
Position: Left wing
Drafted?: No
Quote: "You never know when (a call up) is going to happen, it could happen tomorrow, it could not happen for months. You just gotta play the game where you're at and just do the best that you can no matter where you're at."
We might have seen the last of Wydo, a Robert Morris alum, in the Penguins organization. He was on an AHL contract this year, but struggled to crack the Penguins lineup and spent only nine games in Wilkes-Barre.
He produced at over a point-per-game pace in Wheeling, scoring 26 goals and 30 assists in 53 games before being injured by an open-ice hit at the end of the season. Wydo is 27, and has spent most of the last three seasons in Wheeling putting up numbers like this.
Someone like Wydo might be better off playing in Europe at this point, as many ECHL players in his position end up doing.
2017-18 contract: AHL contract
2018-19 status: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 22
Position: Right wing
Drafted?: No
Quote: "I think what's helped me this year is just trying to get better every day, whether it's in the gym or on the ice, or away from the rink. I just want to be an all-around pro and just kind of work on that."
Gardiner had a season not unlike Wydo's. Gardiner played 10 games in Wilkes-Barre, where he scored one goal and two assists, but he spent the majority of the season in Wheeling -- recording 30 goals and 27 assists in 58 games.
Gardiner is still young at 22. He still has time to grow and develop, and he's someone that I'd like to see Wilkes-Barre sign again.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 22
Position: Center, left wing
Drafted?: 2013, fifth round, Ottawa
Dunn was one of the forward prospects acquired in the three-team trade that sent Ian Cole to Ottawa, Ryan Reaves to Vegas, and brought Derick Brassard to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh did not move Dunn to their system after the trade, and he spent the remainder of the season in Brampton of the ECHL. They won't give him a qualifying offer.
2017-18 contract: NHL contract
2018-19 status: Restricted free agent
Age: 22
Position: Wing
Drafted?: 2013, fourth round, Ottawa
Lindberg was the other forward prospect acquired in the aforementioned three-team trade. Like Dunn, the Penguins did not move him to Wilkes-Barre after the trade, and he spent the remainder of the season with Chicago in the AHL. Lindberg is a better player than Dunn, but given the fact they didn't want him in Wilkes-Barre during the season, I don't see them qualifying him, either.