Penguins A to Z: Finally healthy, Sam Miletic takes a step forward
While the NHL is on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason Zucker.
Player: Sam Miletic
Position: Left winger
Shoots: Left
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 196 pounds
2019-20 AHL statistics: 62 games, 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists)
Contract: Final year of a three-year entry contract with a salary cap hit of $710,000. Pending restricted free agent this offseason.
Acquired: Undrafted free agent signing, Sept. 25, 2017
This season: On the surface, Sam Miletic’s second professional season didn’t look as good as hit first.
Mainly just because of his base numbers. He scored less in more games in 2019-20 than he did during the 2018-19 season when he put up 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in only 49 games.
But the simple fact that Miletic played so many more games this season, even with a pandemic that halted the AHL season in mid-March, is a triumph. A shoulder injury limited him considerably throughout this first pro season.
Fully healed, Miletic, who appeared in 62 of a possible 63 games, was asked to take on a more prominent role in 2019-20 and emerged as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lone representative for that league’s All-Star game in January.
Entering the season, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s roster was stocked with reliable veterans such as Andrew Agozzino, Joseph Blandisi and Stefan Noesen. But eventually, those steadying presences each departed via waivers or trades, allowing Miletic to emerge as a top-six forward and become a regular part of the team’s power-play.
(Video courtesy Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
By the time the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins played their final game of the season March 11, Miletic was manning the left wing of the second line with established AHL stars Phllip Varone at center and Riley Barber on right wing.
Despite that optimal deployment, Miletic only produced one goal in his final 27 games of the season.
The future: Miletic appears to be a safe bet to get a new contract from the Penguins during the offseason, whenever that is. The organization still controls his NHL rights and, by most accounts, his progress in 2019-20 satisfied management.
A prolific scorer as a junior — he recorded 92 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 63 games during his final junior season of 2017-18 split between the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights and Ontario IceDogs — Miletic has the skill and skating ability to be an NHL player.
But he probably is not talented enough to be a top-six forward at the NHL level. He appears to realize that and has devoted much of his energy this season towards refining his defensive game.
With NHL wingers such as Patrick Marleau and Conor Sheary facing pending unrestricted free agency this offseason, Anthony Angello and Sam Lafferty would appear to be candidates to graduate from part-time to full-time NHL status.
That would allow Miletic to become among the top forwards in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to considered for a potential recall in the event of an injury or absence.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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