MONTREAL — The Pittsburgh Penguins currently are scheduled to pick No. 21 overall in the first round of the NHL Draft on Thursday.
It’s highly unlikely that the player they will choose will make an impact in the NHL next season (or in any immediately successive seasons).
But he will offer an immediate boost to the organization’s pool of prospects, which has been shallow for years because of previous management’s practice of dealing away future assets in trades to improve the NHL roster.
Who can the Penguins land at No. 21? Here are 10 possible candidates in alphabetical order:
Lian Bichsel, defenseman
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 216 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: Lekslands IF
Scouting report: A native of Switzerland who played in the Swedish Hockey League last season, Bichsel is a titan of a defender who moves pretty well for man his size. While capable of moving the puck up ice, Bichsel isn’t going to put up gaudy offensive figures but offers a very obvious physical component.
Ryan Chesley, defenseman
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Right
Primary 2021-22 team: United States National Team Development Program
Scouting report: A defensive defenseman who can skate, Chesley offers an intelligent two-way game. Blessed with some size, Chesley is a right-handed shot and teams — especially the Penguins — could always use a starboard defenseman.
Jagger Firkus, right winger
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 153 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Right
Primary: 2021-22 team: Moose Jaw Warriors
Scouting report: A waterbug of a skater who flies all over the ice, Firkus combines his speed with a high level of skill. Capable of beating defenders one-on-one, his modest size will always be a concern. But he has the base elements to be a top-six winger in the NHL.
Nathan Gaucher, center
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 207 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Right
Primary 2021-22 team: Quebec Remparts
Scouting report: A bull of a power forward, Gaucher doesn’t have a ton of finesse to his game and offers a fairly meat-and-potatoes approach. Defensively conscience, Gaucher also kills penalties. This is a player Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke would figure to enjoy.
Isaac Howard, left winger
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 182 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: United States National Team Development Program
Scouting report: A tenacious player who does his best work down low near the cage, Howard collects goals largely by knowing where (or when) to be in a good spot to find them. The Penguins certainly appreciate players like that.
Denton Mateychuk, defenseman
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 188 pounds
Age: 17
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: Moose Jaw Warriors
Scouting report: A playmaking defensemen who reads the ice like a novel, Mateychuk has all the base components to his game to be a No. 1 defenseman. While a bit on the small side, he offers a physical element. He offers a pretty complete package of skills that would entice any team.
Rutger McGroaty, left winger
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: United States National Team Development Program
Scouting report: An intelligent player who is committed to play for Michigan next season, McGroaty plays a physical game, particularly on the wall. His skating will always be a concern, but McGroaty has found a way to get by with guile in the absence of top-flight speed.
Frank Nazar, center
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 175 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Right
Primary 2021-22 team: United States National Team Development Program
Scouting report: A ball of speed and energy, Nazar is a fantastic forechecker who can force defensemen into errors just through tenacity. While on the minuscule side, the skilled Nazar would certainly fit in to the aggressive style the Penguins employ.
Liam Ohgren, left winger
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 187 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: Djurgardens IF
Scouting report: One of the more complete players in the draft, the Swedish-born Ohgren doesn’t necessarily do any one thing at a high level but does a lot of it well. Blessed with finishing ability — he put up 33 goals in 30 games in Sweden’s under-20 league last season — Ohgren doesn’t sacrifice offense for defense.
Noah Ostlund, center
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 163 pounds
Age: 18
Shoots: Left
Primary 2021-22 team: Djurgarden
Scouting report: A dynamic bundle of skill and speed, the Swedish-born Ostlund is a playmaker who is better at creating goals than scoring them. He could boost the organization’s depth at center.
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Related:
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• Tim Benz: NHL Draft could yield quality pick for Penguins, and some Pittsburgh hockey history thanks to Logan Cooley
