Warriors star Yager signs three-year, entry-level contract with NHL’s Penguins

Pittsburgh, Penn. – Moose Jaw Warriors star Brayden Yager has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kyle Dubas, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the Penguins, announced the signing of Yager Thursday afternoon.

Selected 14th overall by the Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old Yager enjoyed an outstanding 2023-24 campaign, registering career highs in goals (35), assists (60), and points (95), en route to winning the WHL’s Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player. In 20 WHL Playoff games, Yager contributed 27 points (11G-16A), playing a major role in the Warriors run to the 2024 WHL Championship.

Yager has starred for the Warriors since making his WHL debut during the 2020-21 season. Selected third overall in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, the product of Saskatoon, Sask., played in 24 WHL games as a 15-year-old, recording 18 points (7G-11A). He followed up by scoring 34 goals as a 16-year-old during the 2021-22 season, earning the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year.

The 6-foot, 170-pound centre is a two-time winner of the WHL’s Brad Hornung Trophy, having first won the award in 2022-23 after posting 78 points (28G-50A) in 67 games.

Over 211 career WHL regular season games, Yager has collected 250 points (104G-146A).

Internationally, the Warriors fan favourite has won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording five points (2G-3A) in five games.

Yager is the third WHL player to sign an entry-level contract with the Penguins in recent weeks. He follows after two members of the Penguins 2024 NHL Draft class, including childhood friend Tanner Howe (Regina Pats), and defenceman Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops Blazers).

SIGNED ✍️

The Penguins have signed forward Brayden Yager to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Details: https://t.co/zvV9XUdp2O pic.twitter.com/4oJRr01DBJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 25, 2024