After the departure of Olli Maatta last week, the Pittsburgh Penguins were left with only two homegrown first-round draft picks among the 39 players under contract: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Unless general manager Jim Rutherford changes course and trades the choice, they will add to that total when they pick 21st overall Friday night in Vancouver.
Here are five names they could call:
1. Moritz Seider, D, 6-foot-3, 183 pounds, Mannheim (Germany): Can’t decide whether to trade the pick for immediate help or keep it for the future? Seider is a compromise. He’s big, smart, mature and probably not far from NHL ready.
2. Thomas Harley, D, 6-3, 188, Mississauga (OHL): Still needs to improve in his own zone, but he has size, speed and the ability to lead in the transition game.
3. Bobby Brink, RW, 5-8, 159, Sioux City (USHL): A natural-born scorer who can find open patches of ice and finish. Knock is he’s an awkward skater, which could be a problem at his size.
4. Ryan Suzuki, C, 6-0, 178, Barrie (OHL): One of the most creative playmakers in the draft, but he’s a boom-or-bust prospect because scouts worry about his intensity and competitiveness.
5. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, 6-1, 190, Hamilton (OHL): Perhaps the ultimate risky pick in the draft. He’s got an eye-popping skill set, scoring 50 goals in the OHL at age 17, but his skating and effort level are questionable.
