That's the cost of being the best team of the salary cap era.

really undervaluing Maniscalco and OConnor.
OConnor has torn it up everywhere he has gone.
And Maniscalco put up almost a point per game as a defenseman in the NCAA. That's a hard task for even a forward to do because of the competition level. For a defenseman that's really good.
Hell Makar who is a looking like a great defenseman only put up 1.2 roughly. So to say a guy who basically put up .9 ppg at the NCAA level is a "might turn into something" is a bit absurd.
He has the size and tools to be a solid 2RD at the NHL level.

Think Blomqvist will turn into a pretty solid G.

I debated between putting Maniscalco in the tier with Nathan Legare but I figured people would give me heat on it and I didn’t wanna start that argument but yeah I agree he could potentially be a pretty impactful NHL player

I still don’t love that pick. Goalies take so long to develop, even if he turns into a vezina caliber goalie (which 90% chance won’t happen), it’s not like he’ll ever be impactful with Crosby/ Malkin

O Connor is really nothing special. A senior scoring a point per game in college is common. They hardly ever amount to anything. O Connor wouldn`t even be on the radar on other teams but because Pens pool is so dry his potential is inflated.

Same with Maniscalco. I think he may have an outside chance to play decently in the NHL. But again, he was 21 years old. Makar did what he did at 18/19.

The Pens don`t have a single prospect who should excite anyone. I`m a fan of Poulin but its unlikely he is a top 6 forward if we are being honest. At least as a driving force. He could be a top 6 F with Crosby, Crosby makes AHL players top 6 forwards. So Poulin could put up points but once Crosby is gone don`t expect him to become a star - at all.

Same with POJ. Nothing spectacular.

No one is expecting Poulin to be a star but 50-60 points is very reasonable considering his success in the Q and based off prospect rankings. POJ needs to put on some more weight but I think he could be a really solid steady puck moving D. He’s the kind of guy who needs more time similar to Dumo. Dumo was drafted in 2009 and didn’t make an impact till 2015/16

Maniscalco did what he did at 20 (the same age Makar did it in the NCAA). and again. defensemen don't score a point per game at the NCAA level. And while there are some seniors who do uptick there scoring you can look at younger guys like Iafallo who didn't do anything in those years. I don't even know why you bring up "seniors" none of these guys were seniors at the NCAA level. They played two years. And the production for 2 years for Maniscalco was great. Which explains why he was highly coveted by teams.
I will stick by my claim here. 2nd year players in the NCAA don't rack up a point per game. Far less. In a league where players tend to be older, mature, and much better competition.
The point on OConnor isn't based on just his NCAA play either. He is tearing it up in europe right now. Again, playing with adults not 16-17 year olds on teams. He's played well everywhere he's gone. He's not a guy anyone should sleep on.

Feel free to be excited about your own prospect. Nothing wrong with that. I just caution you on expectations. It sounds like you think if he becomes a role player...that he's failed and that would frankly be a win.

A .9ppg rate is indeed pretty decent clip, but It's not like he's alone there. There are other guys that haven't been drafted right along side him and he wasn't even the highest scoring Dman on ASU. Ryan Shea scored at a higher rate and the Blackhawks didn't even offering him an AHL contract so he signed with the Stars. You're right that he was 21 and it's even better than he chose to leave ASU. I love ASU...also used to live there, but he's outgrown that team. ASU's schedule isn't really hard because they don't belong to a conference and then have to agree to travel schedules with teams.

You can still pick good if you are.. this clearly isn’t. Look at Vegas for example.. they are really good and they have had good picks.

I have one coming.....lol already had it done......hopefull it's not awful lol

And how many cups do they have? It’s not an issue of pens drafting per say, it’s more of Pittsburgh trading away futures to contend. Pens have drafted Murray/Jake/Jarry/Rust/maatta/ bluegar who have all played key roles for their team.

I don't expect to much from OConnor. His ceiling is 3rd line, I realize that. But he could nitch out a NHL career there aka 500+ games.
As for Maniscalco I think 2nd pairing on his is a fair expectation. If it's 3rd pairing ok, but it's not like I think he's going to be a 1RD. I don't.
I just think when everyone throws the penguins prospects under a bus and say there is nothing there, that it sells some of what they do have short. They are known for finding guys out the NCAA who end up being decent players. No none of them are going to be superstars, but that isn't really the point. They need role players as do all teams.

I mean, I think every NHL fan would take back to back titles over having not good prospects

Exactly lol. The whole point of having good prospects is so that you DO win cups.

I hope Poulin can be that guy. I just think that he is only going to be that guy on Sids line and not as the main piece on his own line. I think he would be a useful player anywhere in the lineup though. Even i he amounts to nothing more than a third liner then I still think he would be nice piece.

POJ is difficult. Dumo was a great success story. I hope POJ can do the same but I don`t think he will ever get to Dumos level. Encouraging to see him getting hyped up from a size standpoint though.

I think Bjorkqvist and Puustinen need promoted one notch each. Other than that great list. Interesting idea.

Yeah I see what you mean, but you never really know how Jarry will turn out in a few years and what not (even though I'm high on him), and having a starter level G on an ELC is always nice.

I wouldn’t be shocked if we trade him just like every other prospect