Zachary Lauzon

June 2019 – Lauzon did not receive an entry level contract from the Penguins. Because he’s born in 1998, he becomes a free agent.  Jokke Nevalainen

May 2019 – Still just 20, the 6-1, 194-pounder faces an uncertain future due to lingering concussion symptoms that ultimately sidelined him for his entire final season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. He had four helpers in just 25 outings the previous injury-marred campaign. Pittsburgh, which drafted him in the second round, has still not offered him an entry-level contract. Mark Allan

December 2018 – Having missed all of Rouyn-Noranda’s QMJHL games this season while dealing with the effects of a concussion and related neck injury, the rugged defender hopes to resume playing this month. The 20-year-old laid low for the entire off-season after mistakenly trying several times to make a comeback in 2017-18. Each time, he experienced dizziness, headaches and neck pain. Since then, he was treated by the same doctor in Florida who helped Sidney Crosby through his concussion symptoms. Mark Allan

June 2018 – The hardrock blueliner hopes to get a pro contract with Pittsburgh but he’s coming off a 25-game, four-assist season for the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies that was shortened by a persistent neck injury. His health clouds the future for the former second-round pick, especially since he plays a pugnacious physical style. Mark Allan

April 2018 – A recurring neck injury basically cost Lauzon an entire QMJHL campaign, restricting him to four assists in 25 league games for Rouyn-Noranda and five scoreless outings as the Huskies were eliminated in a seven-game playoff first round. The rugged six-footer is a combined plus-73 in 160 QMJHL league games with 38 points and a whopping 218 PIMs. He needs to find a cure for his neck, especially if he plans to keep playing so aggressively. Mark Allan

September 2017 – Pittsburgh’s top draft choice (second round) this year was returned to his junior team in the first cuts of training camp. After posting 21 points, 90 PIMs and an eye-opening plus-42 with Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL, Lauzon has an assist and six PIMs in two games back with the Huskies. Mark Allan

June 2017 – Hoping lightning strikes twice, the Penguins nabbed the Kevin Lowe Award recipient as the best QMJHL defensive blueliner this past season. Although he later blossomed as a premier offensive threat, Pittsburgh star Kris Letang won the same award in 2007. Only 18, the brother of 2015 second-round Boston draftee Jeremy Lauzon has acquired some useful experience, including being a member of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies when they captured the Quebec major junior championship in 2015-16 and advanced to Memorial Cup play. A QMJHL all-rookie team member from that campaign, Zachary has amassed three goals and five assists in 29 post-season outings. No stranger to physical play, he’s totaled 173 PIMs in 135 regular-season major junior games.

The Penguins went off the board with their first pick of the draft (a late second-rounder for the second straight year). They likely don’t project him to become a power-play stud to replace Letang at some point, but were willing to use a second-round pick for a rock-solid D-Man. As such, he’ll probably have more value to Matt Murray than to your fantasy squad. Mark Allan