Frederik Tiffels

September 2018 – Tiffels was placed on unconditional waivers so he could be released from his contract. It’s no surprise considering how deep Pittsburgh’s farm system is at LW. Mark Allan

September 2018 – The speedy yet unproductive German was dispatched to Wilkes-Barre Scranton of the AHL as Pittsburgh cut its training camp hopefuls to 45. It’s no surprise for a player who spent most of last season in the ECHL. Tiffels faces a long, steep climb to the NHL. Mark Allan

 May 2018 – Sixteen goals and 17 assists in 44 games. A pretty good pro debut, wouldn’t you say? Unfortunately for the fleet-footed German, he posted those stats with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers after three points in 12 AHL outings got him demoted. He’s never registered a point-per-game season in six years in the USHL, NCAA, ECHL or AHL and, aside from nine points in 13 outings during consecutive WJCs, has never posted good offensive numbers during his extensive international experience. Flying feet+mediocre hands=fourth-line PK specialist. Mark Allan

January 2018 – With just two points in 11 AHL games, Tiffels was demoted to the ECHL, where he has 15 points in 18 games for the Wheeling Nailers. The sixth-rounder is a longshot to be an NHL regular. Mark Allan

December 2017 – The husky German earned a promotion to the AHL by garnering seven points in six games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. The former Western Michigan Bronco scored one lone goal in his first five outings with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 22-year-old will have one more season after this one on his ELC, and he will need minor-league seasoning before getting even a sniff of the big time. Mark Allan

June 2017 – Dipping yet again into the NCAA well that has helped the Penguins to two straight Cups, GM Jim Rutherford signed the husky German to a two-year, entry-level contract. Tiffels has taken an interesting route to his first NHL deal, playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Fargo Force and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in two USHL campaigns. He followed with three underwhelming seasons at Western Michigan University, posting 27 goals and 32 assists in 105 games. However, after going pointless in his first six WJC games, he totaled five goals and four assists in 13 games during his next two U-20 world junior tourneys.

Tiffels is known for blazing speed and agility more than offensive production. Unless his brain and hands start catching up to his feet, he’s likely destined as a highly effective bottom-six checker and PK specialist with sporadic scoring. The 22-year-old will develop in the AHL for at least a couple of seasons. Mark Allan