Prospect News
Finn Harding Signs Entry Level Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Finn Harding to a standard entry-level contract last week. A seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Harding improved from 34 points in 61 games last season to 55 in 61 so far in the 2024-25 season and boasts a +90 plus/minus rating through three seasons with the Mississuaga/Brampton Steelheads. Potentially a bit of a late bloomer, expect the 6’2”, 192 lbs. blueliner to battle for a spot in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton next season or start the season in Wheeling.
Chase Pietila Signs Entry Level Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed another 2024 NHL Draft pick to a standard entry-level deal in Chase Pietila. The fourth round pick scored seven goals and recorded 22 points in 36 games with Michigan Tech in the 2024-25 season after scoring three goals and recording 22 points in the prior season. A blend of skill and snarl with 112 penalty minutes over two NCAA seasons, expect the 6’2″, 187 lbs. blueliner to compete for a spot in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton or potentially reunite with older brother Logan Pietila in Wheeling next season.
In Addition To Draft Picks, Penguins Acquire Two Prospects At Trade Deadline
The Penguins acquired 2021 first round pick Chase Stillman, son of longtime NHL player Cory Stillman, from the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline as part of a deal sending Cody Glass and Jonathan Gruden the other way. Stillman showed some promise last season with 14 goals and 24 points in 54 games as a rookie with the Utica Comets, but carries only three goals and nine points in 36 games in 2024-25. Only 21 years old, perhaps a fresh start with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins gives Stillman–signed through the end of next season–the opportunity to live up to the expectations of a first round pick.
In addition to Stillman, the Penguins acquired the signing rights to Max Graham, a 2024 fifth round draft pick currently with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL, though sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 season after undergoing knee surgery in January. Prior to exiting the lineup, Graham piled up 35 points in 34 games and continues to lead the team with 79 penalty minutes. The Penguins retain the signing rights to the 6’3″, 209 lbs. forward until the summer of 2026. Expect the organization to offer Graham a minor league contract next season for a good look in Wheeling and potentially some time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Prospects Of The Week
Puustinen Steps Up Scoring For Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
With two of the top three scorers missing from the lineup, Valtteri Puustinen stepped up with a goal and four points in two wins for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last week. The 2019 seventh round pick gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 3-1 lead in a 7-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday and set up a Ville Koivunen goal in the third period. The next night, Puustinen recorded two helpers to help the Penguins beat the Belleville Senators 8-3. Puustinen ranks fifth on the team with a 0.78 point per game average–about the same pace when Puustinen led the team with 59 points in 72 games in the 2022-23 season.
Broz Hoping To Find Consistency Since Returning To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Lineup
Tristan Broz started heating up right before exiting the lineup around Christmas due to illness. The 2021 second round draft pick returned to the lineup in early February and strung together points in back-to-back games for the first time in 2025 last week. Broz recorded a primary assist on a Puusinten goal in a 7-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday and scored the eventual game winner and added another assist in a lopsided 8-3 win over the Belleville Senators on Saturday. Broz ranks fourth on the team and eighth among all rookies in the AHL with 16 goals.
Zam Plante Scores For Minnesota-Duluth After Missing Previous Weekend
After missing last weekend recovering from injury, Zam Plante opened the scoring for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Friday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Cloud State. Plante went without a point in a 3-2 win over St. Cloud the next night and ranks sixth on the team with 17 points in 31 games. The freshman forward and the Bulldogs take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in the opening round of the NCHC Tournament starting Friday.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Goes Sandwich Two Wins Between Two Losses Last Week
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored first and outshot the Belleville Senators 36-28 but lost 4-1 on Tuesday night. Atley Calvert deflected a Matt Nieto shot to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the first. Sebastian Aho recorded the other assist. Filip Larsson surrendered three goals on 27 shots in the loss.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first period to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scored seven unanswered goals in a 7-1 win. Mathias Laferriere scored for the first time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to tie the score 1-1 and added a helper later. Rutger McGroarty scored and added two assists, Avery Hayes, Valtteri Puustinen, and Vasily Ponomarev scored and recorded helpers, and Ville Koivunen and Calvert scored the other goals. Nikolai Knyzhov recorded three assists, Owen Pickering recorded a pair of helpers, and Marc Johnstone and Tristan Broz finished with assists. Filip Larsson made 24 saves in the win.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton avenged the Tuesday night loss to Belleville with a convincing 8-3 win on Saturday led by a hat trick and four points from Samuel Poulin and 32 saves, including 16 in the first period, by Sergei Murashov. Koivunen scored and added two helpers, Knyzhov and Broz scored and finished with two points, and McGroarty and Ponomarev added goals. Joona Koppanen recorded three assists, Puustinen and Mac Hollowell recorded a pair of helpers, and Colton Poolman and Nieto recorded assists.
After scoring 15 goals in the previous two games, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton offense faltered on Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Syracuse Crunch. Laferriere scored the lone Penguins goal off Filip Kral and Hollowell assists, and Larsson surrendered four goals on 29 shots.
Wheeling Nailers Win One, Lose Two In Weekend Series In Adirondack
The Wheeling Nailers earned a point despite not scoring a goal in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night. Taylor Gauthier stopped 28 shots in regulation, but surrendered the game winner on the only shot in overtime.
After the low scoring affair on Friday night, the Nailers won 6-4 on Saturday night thanks in part to Mathieu De St. Phalle returning the lineup and leading the way with a goal and two assists. Cole Tymkin, Kyle Jackson, and Matthew Koopman scored and added helpers. Cole Cameron and Gabe Klassen scored the other Wheeling goals, and Philip Waugh and Louie Roehl finished with assists. Jaxon Castor stopped 23 shots in the win.
Despite 35 saves from Taylor Gauthier, the Wheeling Nailers failed two score again and fell 2-0 to the Thunder on Sunday.