Penguins Blog

2020 round 2 #53 overall by Carolina Hurricanes

Vasily Ponomarev is a 6″ 181lbs center who can play wing as well. He is the most NHL ready prospect in the Penguins system. Acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade, Pono has played 5 NHL games already scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 games last year with Carolina. He was called up by the Pens earlier this season but saw around 9 minutes of time on ice.

Ponomarev has the ability to become a 2nd line player although I would see him being a 3rd line player for the penguins as well as on the PK. He was praised by Carolina’s coach Rob Brind’Amour on his 2way game.

He was expected to make the Hurricanes out of training camp last year but got hurt resulting in starting the year in the AHL. I expect the Pens to call him up again throughout the season although I would like to see him play more than 9 minutes per game.

He has won 55.6% of his faceoffs at the NHL level and has 2 blocks, 1 hit and a 2-1 ratio of takeaways and giveaways. These are decent numbers on a very small sample size. If he can continue to be a decent 2 way player he will be the perfect 3rd line shutdown type center that the pens have been trying to get since Nick Bonino left.

NHL probability: 7.5