Pens 1st round pick gets 3-year entry-level contract

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s most likely that the Pens most recent first-round pick (14th overall in 2023) will play somewhere other than the NHL this year, but forward Brayden Yager wants to play in the NHL this season and today signed a three-year, entry-level contract.

That doesn’t guarantee anything for his future, but Yager said after prospect camp a couple of weeks ago he’s aspiring to be in the NHL in 2024 or 2025.

“I think if I can train as hard as I can in the offseason with the mentality to make the team, I can give myself a chance,” Yager said.

Yager said the next few weeks are huge in how he recovers and trains in preparing for camp in two months. In his first pro season last year, the 19-year-old had 35 goals and 60 assists in 57 games in the Western Hockey League.

He also excelled in the playoffs ranked among the top WHL players with 11 goals (3rd), 16 assists (4th) and 27 points (3rd) in 20 playoff games helping his team win the WHL Championship. In the Memorial Cup, he was named to the tournament’s All-Star Team after tallying six points (3G-3A) in four games. Yager was recognized as the CHL’s Sportsman of the Year in 2023-24.

“He’s a fantastic player and a fantastic kid, the biggest thing for him is getting a little stronger,” said Pens Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos. “He has the mindset for it. We’ll see what happens in the Fall, I would expect him to be pushing for Pittsburgh. I think he can bring certain elements to the game. He can skate at the NHL level right now. He keeps building certain aspects of his game, he should be in the mix, in my opinion.”