Top 15 Penguins Prospects Rankings

I've seen quite a few lists ranking the Pens' prospects lately, and I disagree with a lot of them. So, since I find myself to have a decent grasp on the realm of minor hockey, here is Penguins That Fly's list of the top 15 Pittsburgh Penguins prospects going into the 2009-2010 season.

Note that Alex Goligoski is not included in the list. That is by design, is he is more of a player than a prospect at this point. There is little left unknown about him, so he's off the list.

Listed next to the player's name is his position, team he played for last season, league he played in, and how he was acquired by the Penguins. I feel that my analysis after 15 would be too based on personal opinion.

1. Eric Tangradi - F - Belleville Bulls, OHL- trade w/ Anaheim
Tangradi is a slam dunk for this spot. He lit up the OHL last year as captain of the Belleville Bulls, so it was a bit of a surprise that Ray Shero was able to get him out of Anaheim along with Chris Kunitz in the Ryan Whitney trade. Tangradi is a big kid, around 6'3'', and he's a prototypical power forward. Player Comparision: Ryan Malone.

2. Simon Despres - D - St. John Sea Dogs, QMJHL- 2009 1st round draft pick
Despres has an impressive pedigree, and some of us were absolutely thrilled when he fell to the Penguins at the 30th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. I had him going 17th overall to the St. Louis Blues, and very few mock drafts had him as low as he went. He stands 6'4'' and is every bit of 200 pounds. He's very mobile for a defenseman his size, and his puck moving game
progressed tremendously last season, with his assist total doubling. He is, above all else, a defensive defenseman. Player Comparison: Jonathan Ericsson.

3. Alex Grant - D - Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL- 2007 4th round draft pick
Grant was actually a teammate of Despres' for a year and a half while both played in St. John, but Grant was dealt around the QMJHL trade deadline to Shawinigan, where he played deep into the playoffs. Grant has an offensive side to him that makes him dangerous. He skates very well and has a strong burst. He can join the offensive rush, but he's not a defensive liability by any means. Player Comparison: Brad Stuart.

4. Keven Veilleux - F - Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL- 2007 2nd round pick
Veilleux's natural skill level is higher than any other prospect in the system, including Tangradi. When he's on, he has proven that he can tear apart QMJHL defenses. The major red flags with Veilleux are his consistency and work ethic. He often elects not to use his teammates, which gets him into trouble. He's 6'4'', fast, and capable of playing all three forward positions. If he pans out, which is a gigantic if, he'll be a great asset to the Penguins. Player Comparison- Olli Jokinen.

5. Brian Strait - D - Boston University, NCAA- 2006 3rd round pick
After winning a national championship with the Terriers last season, Strait made the decision to leave BU and turn pro. Strait is another very pure defensive blueliner who will not give you much in the opposition's end of the ice. Strait plays an incredibly simple style of hockey and rarely makes mistakes. He has proven he can play in a shutdown role, both with BU and the US U18NDT. Player Comparison- Rob Scuderi.

6. Luca Caputi - F - Wilkes Barre Penguins, AHL - 2007 4th round pick
Like Tangradi, Caputi was a big star in the OHL with the Mississauga Ice Dogs. Also like Tangradi, he's big, mean, and good around the net. Where the two players differ however, is in Caputi's crumby skating. He has limited burst and a choppy stride. He's too slow, and that will probably limit him to a third line role in the NHL. He's a good bet to make the NHL at some point, albeit not in as prominent a spot as most Pens fans think he should be in. Player Comparison: Fernando Pisani.

7. Dustin Jeffrey - F - Wilkes Barre Penguins, AHL - 2007 6th round pick
Jeffrey got a brief tryout with the big club last year when the Penguins were riddled with injuries, and he was a bright spot on a team that was playing pretty terribly. He is an excellent faceoff man, which the Penguins lack now that Mike Zigomanis is gone. With Mike Rupp, Pascal Dupuis, Eric Godard and Craig Adams already in the NHL, Jeffrey will probably spend another season in Wilkes Barre. He's very likely to make the team in 2010. Player Comparison: Blair Betts.

7. Ben Lovejoy - D - Wilkes Barre Penguins, AHL - signed as undrafted free agent
Lovejoy is a pure defensive defenseman. In the NHL, he is good for ten points per season, most of which will be assists. However, when he plays within his limits, Lovejoy is a very serviceable bottom pairing defenseman. He won't make many mistakes, and you'll barely notice him, which isn't a bad thing. Player Comparison: Ossi Vaananen.

8. Ben Hanowski - F - Little Falls High School, Minnesota - 2009 3rd round pick
Hanowski put up absurd numbers in high school, all most averaging four points per game. There's no guarantee that high school studs, even in Minnesota, will carry their success with them to the pro game, but Hanowski has definite potential. He can shoot, pass, and even play physically. His skating could stand to improve, though. Again, he's no guarantee, but he's someone to keep an eye on. Player Comparison: Thomas Vanek.

9. Casey Pierro-Zabotel - F - Vancouver Giants, WHL - 2007 3rd round pick
CPZ has become a bit overrated because of his absurd numbers in the WHL last year playing alongside top draft pick Evander Kane, now of the Atlanta Thrashers. He played as an overager, regularly going up against kids three years younger than him. At that level, age makes a big difference. Like Hanowski, he has potential. His area of specialty is around the crease, where he uses his frame and hand-eye to make things happen. He isn't a can't-miss prospect, though, and it's not wise to expect him to pan out into a top six forward. Player Comparison: Tomas Holmstrom.

10. Nick Johnson - F - Wilkes Barre Penguins, AHL - 2004 3rd round pick
Johnson is unspectacular, but he has some deceptive speed and talent that could turn him into a decent third line player who can pinch in on a second line in the NHL. He's no sure thing, but Johnson gives a hardy effort every night and won't be pushed around. He could be a potential dark horse to make the team out of camp, a la Paul Bissonnette in 2008. Player Comparison: Tyler Kennedy.

11. Phillip Samuelsson - D - Chicago Steel, USHL - 2009 2nd round pick
He was overshadowed in his junior career by fellow Steel blueliner John Moore, but Samuelsson is a quality defensive defenseman. He doesn't have the same edge and tenacity that his father, Ulf, did, but he's steady and reliable. He projects to be completely inept offensively, but his shortcomings can be hidden if he does his job in his own end. Player Comparison: Adam Pardy.

12. Nathan Moon - F - Kingston Frontenacs, OHL- 2008 4th round pick
Moon is a wild card because his future could be anywhere from a top six winger to fourth line center to complete bust. He has played all three forward positions. He has a history of attitude issues, but Kingston coach Doug Gilmour is said to have straightened him out in that regard. He's an agitator, but has a decent set of hands on him and can put the puck in the net. Player Comparison: Ryan Callahan.

13. Joe Vitale - F - Northeastern, NCAA - 2005 7th round pick
Vitale's ceiling, should he get there, will be as a fourth line center who is productive on faceoffs. He plays his game with an edge, though, and can be a useful player when deployed correctly. He's never done much offensively at any level, so he shouldn't be expected to do so in the NHL if he makes it there. Player Comparison: Boyd Gordon.

14. Brad Thiessen - G - Northeastern, NCAA - undrafted free agent
Thiessen was a Hobey Baker finalist last year as a teammate of Vitale's at Northeastern last year. After the season, Thiessen, who was somehow never drafted, joined the Penguins as a taxi squad goaltender for the playoff run. He'll challenge John Curry for the starting job in Wilkes Barre this season, and then presumably, the same two players will be in competition to backup Marc-Andre Fleury in 2010. He's a very energetic, athletic netminder. Player Comparison: Joey MacDonald.

15. Nick Petersen - F - Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL, 2009 4th round pick
Petersen exploded for 90 points last year in the "Q," good for a 60 percent increase on his point total from two years ago. He plays an up-tempo game and, obviously, has a nose for the net. He's a good passer, but only a fair skater. His ceiling is pretty unclear at this point, but he's a person of interest. Player Comparison: Dan Cleary.

Tangradi should be given every opportunity to play on Malkin's line

When Max Talbot had shoulder surgery in the wake of his epic performance that bolstered the Penguins to a Game 7 win in the Stanley Cup Finals, he left what was initially thought to be a short-term void in the Penguins' lineup. With Talbot playing on the right wing on Evgeni Malkin's line, the Penguins had a quick fix that worked quite well for the last two and a half rounds of the postseason. Now, with Talbot injured, there are several candidates with an opportunity to replace Talbot over the long-haul.

Talbot's a fine complimentary player, but in spite of his playoff effort, he is simply not a top six winger by any stretch of imagination. Talbot belongs as the Penguins' fourth line center, or conceivably, a third line winger. Whoever takes over for him will be given every opportunity to stick in that spot over the long-term.

There's been a lot of debate as to who should be plugged in for Talbot on opening night in October. Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke, Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis have been highly speculated as possibilities, but Eric Tangradi has been largely ignored by observers who don't think he'll be an NHL-ready player at that point in time, either because of a hand injury suffered in the OHL playoffs last season, or because he is simply too young and unseasoned.

I, however, fully endorse that Tangradi gets the job to lose it when training camp opens up in September. All indications point to Tangradi's hand rehab going smoothly, and as one can easily tell by listening to him speak, he oozes the self-confidence necessary for a young player to compete in the world's greatest league.

The 20 year old Tangradi is a big man (or should I say, kid) at 6 feet-3 inches and about 215 pounds. He is highly unlikely to be pushed around by NHL defensemen, who will admittedly be faster and stronger than anything he's ever seen before.

He has more natural skill than any of the other players who could vie for the spot on Malkin's line, and because of his age and talent level, Tangradi could be much more than a short-term replacement for Talbot. He could be Malkin's power forward winger for years to come, replacing the departed Ryan Malone, who worked so well on Malkin's wing in the 2007-2008 season.

While Tangradi is a natural left winger and the vacancy on Malkin's line is at right wing, I don't see any reason why Tangradi couldn't make a quick adjustment. Tangradi's greatest contributions will come down low and in front of the net anyway, where his handness and position are largely irrelevant. It's not as if Tangradi is a perimeter sniper who needs to be on the left side of the ice to take quality shots and generate offense.

If the experiment with Tangradi on Malkin's wing completely flopped, the Penguins would be left with options. Tangradi could use his blue-collar mentality and strength to move down to one of the lower two lines and contribute in a grinding role for some time, or, since he's on a two-way contract, he could be sent to the AHL for additional seasoning in a top six role.

This is a low-risk, high reward proposition.


Also posted on Faceoff-Factor.com with the author's permission.

PTF returns to action

I got home from a few weeks away today. Just a notification that we'll be back in full swing soon.