Classement Organisationnel Pronman 2020 - No 4 - PENGUINS

PENGUINS

Classement de l’an dernier: 30e
Classsement NHL: 4e
Gradués: Denis Gurianov


1. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver-NHL

Nov. 12, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds

Tier: Special LNHV2 Player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 70

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 65

Shot: 70

Pettersson has emerged as a star player in the NHL through his first two seasons, being a principal reason for the Canucks’ turnaround. He is a dynamic offensive player. When he has the puck on his stick inside the offensive zone, and especially on the power play, he can strike fear into opponents due to his elite puck skills, vision and shot. He has incredibly loose and quick hands, showing tremendous in-tight coordination and creativity with the puck. Pettersson has the poise and vision to make high-end passes consistently, finding seams with pace and holding onto pucks to create options at a top-level. His wrist shot and one-timers are also elite, shooting a near freak-ish 18 percent in his first two NHL seasons. His mid-range wrist shot is an easy 80 grade, but I lean against giving his shot a pure 80 since he doesn’t as consistently show an incredible long-range shot. He’s a bit of an odd skater with a very deep knee bend, but he’s quick enough to skate at an LNHV2 pace. He isn’t a very physical player, but he competes hard and isn’t taken out of games physically.

2. Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa-NHL

Sept. 16, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 192 pounds

Tier: Elite LNHV2 Player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 65

Hockey Sense: 60

Tkachuk repeated his scoring numbers from his rookie season and was one of the leading shot generators in the league. He’s a world-class player with his net-front play. Tkachuk is tremendous at tipping in point shots, knocking in rebounds, powering his way past checks to tip in passes and overall making himself known when he gets set up in the crease. He makes a ton of great plays around the crease and net, showing great small-area skills and creativity as a passer in tight areas. He has the skill to beat defenders but due to average footspeed he’s not a huge threat off the rush. He has a lot of talent, but a lot of people know him for his physicality. Tkachuk is a pain for opponents to deal with, and physically imposes himself on a game in several ways.

3. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston-NHL

Dec. 21, 1997 | six-foot | 207 pounds

Tier: Elite/high-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

McAvoy has become a leading player on a top NHL team, leading the Bruins in ice time and continuing a sharp upwards trajectory in his development. He’s a well-rounded defenseman. McAvoy is an excellent skater who gets into the attack often due to his quickness. He is great defensively due to how quickly he closes on guys, and the fact he plays a hard, physical game allows him to make a lot of stops with his feet and body. Offensively he’s not a dynamo, but he’s a very clever puck-mover who can find seams and moves pucks at a high level. His skating and IQ allow him to generate a lot of clean exits and entries and make some plays in the offensive zone. McAvoy may not land on a lot of offensive highlight reels, but he’s a very good two-way defenseman who can be an important component of a contending team.

4. Cal Foote, D, Syracuse-AHL

Dec. 13, 1998 | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 45

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 65

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Foote logged significant minutes for Syracuse in his second pro season. The point totals didn’t take a step forward, but I thought he looked very impressive as a puck-mover. Foote has his head up and sees the ice so well both on his exits and from the offensive blue line. He picks apart defenses at an LNHV2 level with his seam passes. He’s a great passer, but also has a hard wrist shot that can beat pro goalies. Foote defends well due to his great reach and intelligence. The one knock on him has always been his footspeed. He’s going to struggle to skate at the LNHV2 pace, but given how well he moves pucks I think he will be able to play at that speed.

5. Jared McIsaac, D, Moncton-QMJHL

March 27, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds

Tier: Legit NHL player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 55

Hockey Sense: 60

McIsaac didn’t put up huge numbers this season, but he didn’t get big power-play minutes on Moncton. He did help Canada win gold at the world juniors, though. Despite lacking the point totals, I do think McIsaac has skill and puck-moving ability that will translate. He can be a bit risky with the puck, but generally I like his outlets. He’s a heads-up passer who can stretch the ice and his puckhandling pops at times. McIssac is mobile, showing the ability to get up into attacks. Defensively his feet help him close on a lot of rushes, and he’s good at physically separating checks from pucks. He’s not the best at anything, but he checks a lot of boxes you want in an LNHV2 player.

6. Elmer Soderblom, RW, Frolunda- J20 SuperElit:

July 5, 2001 | 6-foot-6 | 227 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 40

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 75

Hockey Sense: 55

Soderblom had a big year at the Swedish junior level, as a top scorer in the league. He had a solid world junior camp for Sweden this summer, and the sixth-round pick from 2019 seems to be on an upward trajectory. He’s a 6-foot-6 forward with excellent hands who can dangle defenders consistently, which intrigues. I’ve seen more flashes of playmaking from him recently. I don’t think that’s his main strength, as opposed to using his skill and being a nuisance around the net front with his big frame. His skating is a concern, and some NHL scouts think it’s going to keep him out of the league. He’s powerful though and competes hard, which I think could help him overcome his heavy feet.

7. Jack Rathbone, D, Harvard-ECAC

May 20, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 190 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 35

Hockey Sense: 60

Rathbone had a great sophomore season at Harvard, being one of the top defensemen in college and a minutes eater for his club. Rathbone is a great skater, showing the first step, edges and speed to be very elusive. He closes gaps on checks well, even as an undersized player, due to his skating. Offensively he has skill and offensive sense. He is a creative puck-mover who makes great outlets and can find seams from the offensive line. He can attack as a mover or rusher. I don’t think the offense is ever going to dazzle, but it’s enough to make plays at the higher level. At his size, how well he will defend will be the question in the LNHV2, but there seems to be enough in his skill set to overcome that.

LNHV2 POTENTIAL

Mitchell Gibson, G, Harvard-ECAC: Gibson was effective right away in college hockey being a top goalie in his conference. He’s not the biggest goalie, but he’s very quick and can make difficult saves with how quick he moves and reacts. Is he elite enough of a talent for his size? I’m not fully convinced, but he was way better in college than I thought he’d be.

Jackson LaCombe, D, Minnesota-Big Ten: Lacombe is a mobile defenseman with a high level of offensive skill. His first collegiate season went fine. Scouts note he still has work to do defensively and his offensive touch isn’t so elite that it makes up for that.

Gustav Lindstrom, D, Detroit-NHL: Lindstrom is a very smart two-way defenseman with size but lacks true LNHV2 quality mobility and skill.

Yegor Rykov, D, Hartford-AHL: Rykov missed a lot of time last season due to injury. He’s a very smart puck-mover with size, but his skating is mediocre and it led to an adjustment for him defensively at the AHL level.