When junior hockey players turn 20 years old, they become eligible to play in the AHL, and typically make the jump to professional hockey at that time.
Sometimes, prospects aren't deemed ready to make that jump, whether it be due to their ability or a logjam at that position on the AHL team, and the NHL club elects to leave that prospect in juniors for an extra year. These 20-year-olds are called "overagers" in junior hockey, and a team can only carry three at a time.
Overagers don't typically amount to much in their professional careers. Looking at a list of the OHL's Overage Player of the Year award winners, you see a list of underwhelming names, with a few exceptions.
21-year-old left wing prospect Sam Miletic is beginning his professional career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season after being an overager in the OHL last season, and he believes that he has a path to success in the Penguins' organization.
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