The Penguins' top prospect is under contract. Forward Brayden Yager on Thursday signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins.
The contract will begin when Yager turns pro, which is likely still two seasons away. Yager, 19, isn't yet old enough to play in the AHL due to the NHL-CHL transfer agreement this coming season -- he won't become eligible to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton until his WHL season is over. Given that he's likely not quite ready for full-time NHL action, with one major reason being that he needs to add strength to his 5-foot-11, 173-pound frame, he'll almost surely return to junior.
Yager won't count toward the Penguins' 50 contract limit if he returns to junior and his contract slides another year. The Penguins currently have 51 players signed, but prospects like Yager, Tanner Howe and Harrison Brunicke won't count toward that total when the season starts.
"Today is a day that I’ve been dreaming of my whole life," Yager wrote on Instagram of the signing. "There’s no way that I can thank my family enough for believing in me and having made the sacrifices that they have, to help this come true. I need to thank the Pittsburgh Penguins for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the future of such a great organization. I want to thank the entire Moose Jaw Warriors organization for playing such a key role in developing me into the player that I am today."
PENGUINS
Brayden Yager signs his entry-level contract on Thursday.
This year Yager set career highs in goals (35) and points (95) in 57 games in the regular season, tying for second in team scoring and 14th in the WHL. He ranked third in both team and league scoring in the playoffs, with 11 goals and 27 points in Moose Jaw's 20 playoff games.
For more on Yager's year, including my one-on-one chats with him and his WHL head coach Mark O'Leary, check out this feature from when I went to Saginaw, Mich. for the Memorial Cup.
