Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest

Players who didn’t quite crack the top 25 this year but are worth keeping an eye on

In most recent years, it’s been a struggle identifying and going with 25 young players in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization that are worth showcasing. A deeper team like Montreal includes all of their prospects on Habs Eyes on the Prize. While it’s probably not worthwhile enough to rank and talk about every single prospect or ECHL player in the Pens’ pipeline, this summer there are a few players to highlight as somewhat realistic longshots or players that might have some untapped potential to realize in the years to come.

With that in mind, here are a few of the names in the Top 25+ Under 25 for Pittsburgh this season, listed in alphabetical order.

Cooper Foster (sixth round pick 2023; 21 goals and 31 assists for OHL Ottawa):

Foster made the cut last year at 24th, but despite a step-up in production in the OHL this season, the increased depth of young players

“He’s a good, smart two-way forward that has the ability to create offense and defend,” Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said over the summer. “He’s very versatile. That’s one of the things that coaches really enjoy about him. They use him in different ways, they can play him on both wings, they can play him at center, they can play him on both sides of special teams. He’s got to keep working on his consistency. That intensity, there’s times he plays intense, there’s times where it comes and goes.”

Foster is on the radar enough that the Pens signed him to an amateur tryout when his junior season was over for Wilkes-Barre, though the youngster was not used in any games he was able to get a first taste of life in the pro ranks. He’ll be back in the OHL this season and Pittsburgh will have a decision to sign him or relinquish his rights by June of 2025. A strong final OHL year plus a contract looks very plausible, but Foster will need to continue to make developmental strides and start his pro careers in the minors in 2025-26.

Daniel Laatsch (seventh round pick, 2021; 2G+9A for Wisconsin):

Laatsch is going back for his senior season at Wisconsin, where some believe he is one of the top defensive defenseman in college hockey.

“I think there’s a lot of potential in Daniel, being the size he is, the intelligence he has defensively, the stick detail he has,” Kostopoulos said. “(Penguins development coach) Chris Butler has been saying it for a few years now, he has the best defensive stick in college hockey. He’s got to get stronger and keep working on the meanness to his game, but we think there is an NHL role for him. He’s in a great program there in Wisconsin. The decision was made for him to go back (for his senior season). I thought it was the best thing for his development.”

Laatsch has the type of size at 6’5” that can’t be taught, though his offensive game is minimal. Ideally he could earn a NHL contract in March or April, otherwise he will be out of the Pens’ organization. Responsible, defensive defensemen are always in play to surprise (look at the career path of Jack St. Ivany, who took four years of college and some AHL time to grow into an NHL option) but it’s still a long and uncertain road ahead for Laatsch’s pro potential.

Zam Plante (fifth round pick 2022; 26G+45A for USHL Fargo):

After being a part of the USHL championship team last year, Plante (turns 20 this month) will be stepping up to the NCAA ranks for Minnesota-Duluth this season. Plante is a smaller player but has good offensive instincts and a nice family pedigree. His father Derek played 450 career NHL games, mostly with Buffalo in the 1990’s. Brother Max was just drafted 47th overall by Detroit in 2024 and will join Zam in Duluth this fall.

The runway is long but as a veteran of a few summer prospect camps, Zam Plante is on the radar and could be looking to move up the organizational picture depending on how his NCAA career starts.

Chase Yoder (sixth round pick in 2020; 11G+9A for Providence):

Yoder is a player with good skating that empties the tank every shift. His scoring at the NCAA isn’t impressive but he’s leadership material as a two-year captain for Providence, where he’ll return for a bonus fifth year of COVID eligibility this fall. Yoder was also nominated for the Hobey Baker, speaking to his effort level and all-around play as one of the top players in the NCAA level, even if it’s coming without a lot of natural offensive skill.