Ryan Wilson: Brayden Yager just finished up a very successful junior season, now what? Brayden Yager just finished up a very successful junior season, now what?

"You’d think the country who is a self-proclaimed hockey superpower...."

Self proclaimed?

More like world renowned.

The CHL rules are f'n BS though, no doubt.

"You’d think the country who is a self-proclaimed hockey superpower...."

Self proclaimed?

More like world renowned.

The CHL rules are f'n BS though, no doubt.
- MattStrat

lol Canada sucks

lol Canada sucks
- Feds91Stammer

hahaha in some ways yes for sure, just like the USA, but hockey isn't one of them....

Wimpy behavior that continues to harm the development of the players they supposedly care about.
- Ryan_Wilson

They don't care about players development, they care about having players to make money.

In other words, they care about player development as much as the NHL cares about player safety.

hahaha in some ways yes for sure, just like the USA, but hockey isn't one of them....
- MattStrat

I was specifically speaking to hockey. Canada sucks.

I was specifically speaking to hockey. Canada sucks.
- Feds91Stammer

hahaha

Do juniors players get paid? Unsure how there hasn’t been a riot by the kids and their families for being held back from a career if they’re not.

At the very least, there should be an exemption for 1st round picks. Also, what happens if an NHL team just doesn’t let their prospect go back to juniors? A lot of kids are probably better off just practicing with the NHL team all year vs playing against 16 and 17 year olds.

Do juniors players get paid? Unsure how there hasn’t been a riot by the kids and their families for being held back from a career if they’re not.
- Victoro311

I believe they get a tiny tiny amount and any signing bonus money if they’ve signed an nhl contract.

Change his name to Brayden Jagr and he'll be well over the age to be AHL eligible

The big issue with Yager seems to be that even after putting on 5-7 pounds of muscle he's still only 172 lbs. Feels like 180 is the target at his height.

Beyond that though he's ready to move up. At least what he needs to improve on he won't learn in the WHL. Unfortunately, that's a pretty common story for mid to late first round picks. Even with someone like Poulin who doesn't have near the same ceiling his last year of juniors was a waste. Many of them would be better off even playing in US colleges or European leagues.

Follow up but at least in Yager's case he seems to have picked up the idea from Sid on working on improving all areas of your game. So I feel pretty certain he'll make the most of the year and be prepared to turn pro and possibly even skip the AHL next year.

The big issue with Yager seems to be that even after putting on 5-7 pounds of muscle he's still only 172 lbs. Feels like 180 is the target at his height.

Beyond that though he's ready to move up. At least what he needs to improve on he won't learn in the WHL. Unfortunately, that's a pretty common story for mid to late first round picks. Even with someone like Poulin who doesn't have near the same ceiling his last year of juniors was a waste. Many of them would be better off even playing in US colleges or European leagues.
- Tojo.

I saw a tweet that Craig Button said he's the only player in the Mem Cup Tourney who's NHL ready.

It's not obvious to me that a petition for an exemption would be turned down in this case because Yager can appeal on the basis of having played 4 seasons in the CHL, not on age. He is only being held back by the fact that the 20-21 season was only 24 games, where he played all the games but it was one less than needed to count as a season for the transfer rules.

I saw a tweet that Craig Button said he's the only player in the Mem Cup Tourney who's NHL ready.
- j.boyd919

Interesting. That's a pretty big statement.

The big issue with Yager seems to be that even after putting on 5-7 pounds of muscle he's still only 172 lbs. Feels like 180 is the target at his height.

Beyond that though he's ready to move up. At least what he needs to improve on he won't learn in the WHL. Unfortunately, that's a pretty common story for mid to late first round picks. Even with someone like Poulin who doesn't have near the same ceiling his last year of juniors was a waste. Many of them would be better off even playing in US colleges or European leagues.
- Tojo.

Can a 19 year old kid put on 10 pounds of good weight in an offseason and still be comfortable in his body to not experience a backslide in play? Guess we’re about to find out.

Can a 19 year old kid put on 10 pounds of good weight in an offseason and still be comfortable in his body to not experience a backslide in play? Guess we’re about to find out.
- Victoro311

I wouldn't completely bet against it.

I wouldn't completely bet against it.
- Tojo.

Me neither but probably closer to the upper limit of the possible. Physical development can be very touch and go at this age. Lots of injury risk in trying to do to much too fast

The Penguins might be forced into a decision where his development would be limited in the NHL because of his role/playing time and his development in the CHL would be limited because of his level of competition.

Personally, I want him on the roster if the CHL is his only other option.

Can a 19 year old kid put on 10 pounds of good weight in an offseason and still be comfortable in his body to not experience a backslide in play? Guess we’re about to find out.
- Victoro311

He'd have June, July, August, September. That's 4 months to gain 2.5 pounds/month.

That is doable. A lot would depend on various circumstances and variables, but it isnt impossible.

I want to say Pickering put on a good bit of weight over the summer after he was drafted.

I remember Dubas saying earlier that both Pickering and Yager will be given opportunities to make the Penguins roster.

Can a 19 year old kid put on 10 pounds of good weight in an offseason and still be comfortable in his body to not experience a backslide in play? Guess we’re about to find out.
- Victoro311

Yeah dude. The same way Ovi came back from the break and started scoring again. Do a cycle or two.

I saw a tweet that Craig Button said he's the only player in the Mem Cup Tourney who's NHL ready.
- j.boyd919

Craig Button has to be one of the most dunce dudes around hockey I've ever listened to. He's on TSN a lot up here as an analyst and I always find it baffling he was given GM duties of a NHL team in his life. This is the guy who put Marty St. Louis on waivers, traded young goalie stud Jean-Sebastion-Giguere to the Ducks and basically gave away Marc Savard for nothing (a Russian who never ended up having a single NHL shift).

Having said all of that, I'm sure he is right sometimes and I certainly hope this is one of them haha

Can a 19 year old kid put on 10 pounds of good weight in an offseason and still be comfortable in his body to not experience a backslide in play? Guess we’re about to find out.
- Victoro311

Can you put on 10lbs in the offseason... even at that age it is a stretch (unless sauce is involved). But it wouldnt be productive even if you could. You would have to eat, lift weights and rest. Conditioning would have to suffer and with that skill training.

I wouldn't worry about his weight. Yes, he will want to get bigger and stronger, but you can get by being a lightweight better in today's NHL than in the past. Goal for him should be to put on 10-15lbs by the beginning of next season, a year from now.

Can you put on 10lbs in the offseason... even at that age it is a stretch (unless sauce is involved). But it wouldnt be productive even if you could. You would have to eat, lift weights and rest. Conditioning would have to suffer and with that skill training.

I wouldn't worry about his weight. Yes, he will want to get bigger and stronger, but you can get by being a lightweight better in today's NHL than in the past. Goal for him should be to put on 10-15lbs by the beginning of next season, a year from now.
- MacPatty

As I said, I agree that putting on 10lbs of good weight in an off season while still being able to play well is a tall task for a 19 year old and I wouldn’t count on it. You usually have to be in your prime to transform your body that quickly. Try to do that at too young or too old and it could (frank) you up.