A former top prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins has earned a pretty high honor.
Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager – who the Penguins traded in August in a prospect trade for then-Jets ace Rutger McGroarty – was named captain of Team Canada for the IIHF 2025 World Junior Championship.
Yager was recently involved in a blockbuster WHL trade, when the Lethbridge Hurricanes acquired him in an 11-player deal with his former team, the Moose Jaw Warriors. Between both clubs in the WHL this season, he scored 12 goals and 34 points in 23 games.
He recently praised Sidney Crosby – who will likely captain Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February – for being a great mentor during his short time with the Penguins organization:
Yager is joined on Team Canada by Penguins prospect Tanner Howe, one of Pittsburgh’s two second-round picks (46th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Their other second-round pick, Harrison Brunicke, was also invited to Team Canada camp, but he is currently out with a wrist injury and was not medically cleared to participate.
Pittsburgh will also send defensive prospects Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas to the tournament, and they will represent Team Finland. The tournament takes place from December 26 to January. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario.
