Justin Almeida

April 2020 – Almeida had an average first pro season where he spent the majority of the year with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers, putting up five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 37 games. In the beginning of the season, he had a nine-game stint with the AHL Penguins but was only able to score one goal. The 5-11 forward needs to work on building up more muscle, as well as getting more involved physically, if he wants a chance at staying in the AHL next year. Clare McManus

January 2020 – After finishing his junior career with 111 points in 64 WHL outings, Almeida is experiencing a humbling pro debut. Demoted to the Wheeling Nailers after producing just one goal and no assists in seven AHL games, the 20-year-old has only two scores and seven helpers in 20 ECHL appearances. The former fifth-round pick still has two more campaigns on his entry-level pro contract, but he should add some muscle to his 5-11, 165-pound frame. Mark Allan

September 2019 – Almeida was one of 17 players assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL in the second round of cuts from Pittsburgh’s training camp. Mark Allan

June 2019 – Almeida is sitting out Pittsburgh’s annual off-season development camp while he recovers from shoulder surgery. Mark Allan

May 2019 – The Western Hockey League’s best playmaker compiled 78 assists, 13 ahead of two runners-up. His league-leading total helped the 5-11, 161-pound mighty mite finish third in scoring with a personal-best 111 points. He can score, too, and while his 33 goals were down by 10, he played in just 64 games, eight fewer than a year earlier. The 20-year-old’s offensive heroics evaporated in the post-season. He was pointless as his Moose Jaw Warriors were swept 4-0 by Saskatoon in the first round. Although the North American game emphasizes speed and skill these days, his size will be counted against him until he graduates from junior and proves himself against battle-hardened men in the AHL. Mark Allan

March 2019 – Almeida signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. The pact, which starts in 2019-20, carries an AAV of $925,000. A fifth-round pick last year, the 20-year-old leads the Western Hockey League with 72 assists and is third in points with 102. Although his goals are down from a season ago, his playmaking has led him to his best WHL offensive campaign. The 5-11, 165-pounder will have to prove himself against men in the AHL. Mark Allan

February 2019 – Powered by 56 assists (tied for the league lead), Almeida sits sixth in WHL points with 79 in 51 games, fewer than the five players ahead of him have played. Second on the Moose Jaw Warriors to Tristin Langan’s league runner-up 88 points, Almeida’s total includes 10 goals and 23 assists with the man advantage. Expect the 20-year-old to be signed by Pittsburgh by the off-season. Mark Allan

December 2018 – After 19 games in his fourth WHL campaign, Almeida’s five goals and plus-4 are well behind the 43 goals and plus-42 in the 71 games of his 2017-18 breakout. His 23 assists, however, are ahead of last season’s pace that resulted in 55 helpers. Regardless, the slightly built 19-year-old has 28 points and is en route to another productive campaign with the Moose Jaw Warriors, who are good but perhaps not as strong as the powerhouse that led the WHL with 52 victories. Mark Allan

September 2018 – The creative, undersized winger is returning to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a fourth junior campaign. He set his personal bar high with 98 points in 2017-2018. Even if he matches or exceeds that breakout number, he will always have to prove he can play with the big boys. Mark Allan

July 2018 – The slender forward exploded for 43 goals, 55 assists and 98 points in 72 games during his third full WHL schedule. His size (listed by Pittsburgh as 5-9, 158 and 5-11, 160 by the Moose Jaw Warriors) might have hurt his draft stock but he didn’t go unchosen for the second straight year. Almeida got drafted because of his flying feet, which give him separation when he has the puck and allows him to haunt puck-carriers. Add creativity, soft hands and a quick release on his shot and his 98-point eruption make sense. It was the first time he had really capitalized on his gifts, although he followed with 13 points in 14 junior playoff games. Mark Allan