Jagger Joshua’s first full AHL season has come with all sorts of takeaways — through 50 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the 24-year-old winger has learned that his game can indeed translate from the college ranks to the pros, yet he has as much to learn away from the ice as he still does on it.

“Well, I’m not a good cook,” Joshua said before bursting into laughter.

While Joshua might not be a savant in the kitchen, he’s much more knowledgeable of who he is as a hockey player, which bodes well for the gritty forward who was a four-year standout at Michigan State. Joshua takes great pride in being hard to play against and unapologetically physical, demonstrated in the big hits he’ll frequently deliver on unsuspecting opponents and having the third-most penalty minutes on the team.

Unlike in college, when Joshua’s aggressiveness more often landed him in the penalty box, he’s occasionally gotten away with such conduct.

“I used to complain sometimes,” Joshua said. “Because I’d get some boarding calls or some hits, and I’m like, ‘I don’t think at the next level some guys are gonna fall that easy.’”

It’s been more difficult in the early goings for Joshua to lay out AHL players at center ice relative to when he was skating against Big Ten foes. He knows, though, that few in the Penguins’ organization play like him. So, Joshua has sought to develop a reputation similar to the one he’d built up at the collegiate level.

“I want to be the one in the other locker room that when those guys see the lineup,” Joshua said. ‘“It’s like, ‘Oh, we got to play Jagger tonight.’”

But it isn’t just toughness that Joshua has brought in a bottom-six role for the Baby Pens. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Joshua has been an effective penalty killer, making good use of size and long reach for coach J.D. Forrest’s squad.

He’s not only settled in after a brief seven-game stint in the AHL last year—he’s taken strides forward with the help of veterans on the roster.

Joshua highlighted the since-departed Colin White, team captain Taylor Fedun, Xavier Ouellet and Vinnie Hinostroza, among others.

He has also embraced working closely with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s development coaches, who have collectively tried to elevate his skating abilities. There are a couple of areas in particular Joshua would like to improve, including his skating stride and making better use of his edges.

“I’m only a few months in here, and you can already see the difference,” Joshua said. “I’m excited for a whole summer with that type of help.”

The early returns a step below the NHL have mostly been welcomed ones. Albeit far from a prolific goal-scorer, Joshua has netted six and assisted on eight others while producing a plus-6 rating that’s top-10 on the team. And he’s been a staple in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lineup, leading the team in games played.

Still, he hasn’t had the best season of any pro hockey player with the surname Joshua. That distinction belongs to older brother Dakota, who is in the midst of a career year for the Vancouver Canucks.

Dakota has set personal bests in goals and assists on a playoff-bound team, much to Jagger’s satisfaction—even if such a sentiment doesn’t arise in their conversations.

“I’m his No. 1 fan. I probably will never tell him to his face,” Jagger said. “But around my teammates, maybe I brag about him a little too much. But I’m super happy for him.”

Rather than jealousy occupying the younger Joshua’s thoughts, Dakota’s success gives him confidence that he, too, can one day make the leap to the NHL. Jagger is down the Penguins’ depth chart for the time being, though, and is perhaps still a ways from earning his first NHL contract.

While Jagger keeps working at his craft, he hopes Dakota’s success could open up opportunities for him to get more thorough NHL looks. It also doesn’t hurt to have the slightest of sibling rivalries pushing them.

“I feel like I can one day be better than him,” Jagger said. “And hopefully he hears that, and when he hears that, it pushes him.”

But for now, Jagger is enjoying his process with the Baby Pens. Hardly satisfied with his season, Jagger appreciates where he’s at and hopes to keep steadily improving, to one day join his big brother.

“Looking back on the summer, if I would have been told I was in this position, I would have taken it and been happy with it,” Joshua said of his season. “Obviously, it’s come with some struggles and some learning experiences. But overall, I’m super happy with how it’s gone so far.”