Poll: Who would you draft at 9th overall?

[thehockeyguru]

The Athletic says:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/629239 ... y-pronman/

1. Schaefer [SJ]
2. Misa [CHI]
3. Desnoyers [NASH]
4. Hagens [PHI]
5. Frondell [BOS]
6. O’Brien [SEA]
7. Martone [BUF]
8. Mrtka [ANH]

9. Pittsburgh Penguins: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan)

Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks winger William, showed high skill and tempo playing against men this year. His motor and puck touches pop. Pittsburgh needs young offensive help badly, and Eklund offers both upside and NHL traits.

10. McQueen [NYI]

Honestly I don't care what position we select out system is so void of top tier talent. Im willing to bet someone is there at #9 that we weren't expecting. I think Dubas can evaluate draft eligible talent I trust that they'll select best available

I don't think the eight teams ahead of us would select the right best picks available. Different orgs have different needs. Not all of them need EVERYTHING like the Pens do

I don't think the Penguins need everything, unless you're including depth. For offense, they have Broz, , Howe, Cruz Lucius and will naturally get forwards with each draft, but not pressing. Defense they have Brunicke, Pickering, Pieniniemi, Finn Harding has nice size, Belliveau might be a stretch but he's at least depth. Goalie we've discussed a lot.

I'd say other than depth, the only pressing need would be top 2 centers.

Center is glaring. No top 4 defenders You graduate McGroarty and Koivunen there aren't any true top 6 wingers

[100565]

The Athletic says:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/629239 ... y-pronman/

1. Schaefer [SJ]
2. Misa [CHI]
3. Desnoyers [NASH]
4. Hagens [PHI]
5. Frondell [BOS]
6. O’Brien [SEA]
7. Martone [BUF]
8. Mrtka [ANH]



10. McQueen [NYI]

Honestly I don't care what position we select out system is so void of top tier talent. Im willing to bet someone is there at #9 that we weren't expecting. I think Dubas can evaluate draft eligible talent I trust that they'll select best available

I don't think the eight teams ahead of us would select the right best picks available. Different orgs have different needs. Not all of them need EVERYTHING like the Pens do

I don't think the Penguins need everything, unless you're including depth. For offense, they have Broz, , Howe, Cruz Lucius and will naturally get forwards with each draft, but not pressing. Defense they have Brunicke, Pickering, Pieniniemi, Finn Harding has nice size, Belliveau might be a stretch but he's at least depth. Goalie we've discussed a lot.

I'd say other than depth, the only pressing need would be top 2 centers.

Center is glaring. No top 4 defenders You graduate McGroarty and Koivunen there aren't any true top 6 wingers

I'm with you. take BPA. The Cs in this draft atr most likely 2C or 3C.

[FLPensFan]

The Athletic says:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/629239 ... y-pronman/

1. Schaefer [SJ]
2. Misa [CHI]
3. Desnoyers [NASH]
4. Hagens [PHI]
5. Frondell [BOS]
6. O’Brien [SEA]
7. Martone [BUF]
8. Mrtka [ANH]



10. McQueen [NYI]

Honestly I don't care what position we select out system is so void of top tier talent. Im willing to bet someone is there at #9 that we weren't expecting. I think Dubas can evaluate draft eligible talent I trust that they'll select best available

I don't think the eight teams ahead of us would select the right best picks available. Different orgs have different needs. Not all of them need EVERYTHING like the Pens do

I don't think the Penguins need everything, unless you're including depth. For offense, they have Broz, , Howe, Cruz Lucius and will naturally get forwards with each draft, but not pressing. Defense they have Brunicke, Pickering, Pieniniemi, Finn Harding has nice size, Belliveau might be a stretch but he's at least depth. Goalie we've discussed a lot.

I'd say other than depth, the only pressing need would be top 2 centers.

Center is glaring. No top 4 defenders You graduate McGroarty and Koivunen there aren't any true top 6 wingers

If one of Desnoyers, Frondell, or O'Brien is still there at 6 with Seattle on the clock, I'm trying to trade up. Likely costs 9th overall, plus a 2nd and a 3rd, maybe a prospect or another 3rd from another year.

Otherwise, it's BPA for me. I like Eklund, but I wonder if he is elite, top line forward. I don't see McGroarty as a high-end winger...hope he proves me wrong, but I see him more as putting up Rust type numbers. Not sure yet on Koivunen. But, I don't think either one of those guys is Guentzel or Rakell or Kessel level type of winger production.

So, it's good to get younger, but having 3 young wingers with none of them game-breakers isn't ideal for me. Defense is probably more of a need at that point. Martone at least brings a different skillset at wing, having the size and power forward type of skillset.

[Puck-Lurker]

While it is a fair point that we don't necessarily need some kind of scoring winger, we need a C to eventually step up and be a 1C/2C when the unthinkable happens: Sidney Crosby retires.

But you can also put a 2C/3C type down the middle, if you have a scoring winger that developed really well and meshes.. so I guess you can kinda backhandedly get there that way too?

Priority has to be C and LHD though.

[Daniel]

While it is a fair point that we don't necessarily need some kind of scoring winger, we need a C to eventually step up and be a 1C/2C when the unthinkable happens: Sidney Crosby retires.

But you can also put a 2C/3C type down the middle, if you have a scoring winger that developed really well and meshes.. so I guess you can kinda backhandedly get there that way too?

Priority has to be C and LHD though.

If you have a top notch center, just about anyone can be a scoring winger. Who thought Dupuis or Rust or Fedotenko would be scoring wingers? I think a top center will make wingers better but a top winger won't necessarily make a center better.

[Sigwolf]

If you have a top notch center, just about anyone can be a scoring winger. Who thought Dupuis or Rust or Fedotenko would be scoring wingers? I think a top center will make wingers better but a top winger won't necessarily make a center better.

Well... Fedotenko never was a scoring winger... he scored a total of 27 goals across two seasons with the Pens. He reached the 20 goal plateau exactly one season in his career. He played a valuable role in the '09 cup, but he could never be considered a 'scoring winger'.

[Daniel]

If you have a top notch center, just about anyone can be a scoring winger. Who thought Dupuis or Rust or Fedotenko would be scoring wingers? I think a top center will make wingers better but a top winger won't necessarily make a center better.

Well... Fedotenko never was a scoring winger... he scored a total of 27 goals across two seasons with the Pens. He reached the 20 goal plateau exactly one season in his career. He played a valuable role in the '09 cup, but he could never be considered a 'scoring winger'.

You're right and he had 14 minutes ice time. Plays he had 14 points in 24 games. Should have been more specific.

[Puck-Lurker]

Good scoring wingers don't grow on trees either. Rust is an anomaly in that regard, started with long odds down in the ECHL and just kept climbing to the next plateau to become a very good and useful top 6 winger. Criminally underrated almost everywhere I look.