Penguins Pick Six

General manager Jim Rutherford and the scouting staff added six new players to the Penguins’ fold yesterday at the NHL Entry Draft in Chicago.

With the 51st overall pick—acquired from St. Louis in the Ryan Reaves deal—the Pens selected defenseman Zachary Lauzon from Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Although a bit undersized at 6-0 187 pounds, Lauzon employs a physical, stay-at-home style.

While helping to lead the Huskies to the Quebec League championship, the 18-year-old tallied 21 points in 63 games, to go with 90 penalty minutes and a sparkling plus-42. He earned the Kevin Lowe Trophy as the Best Defensive Defenseman in the QMJHL.

Despite his modest output and a comparatively low draft ranking by NHL Central Scouting (143rd among North American prospects), he’s an excellent skater and moves the puck well, two black-and-gold prerequisites.

Jesse Marshall of Faceoff-Factor likened Lauzon to a smaller, edgier version of present Pens defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

In the third round the Pens selected Clayton Phillips, an undersized offensive defenseman from Fargo of the United States Hockey League. An explosive skater who patterns his game after Kris Letang, the 17-year-old Phillips has ties to Mike Guentzel (Jake’s dad), who helped recruit Clayton for the University of Minnesota.

The Hockey News described Phillips as a “smart, puck-moving D-man made for (the) modern NHL.”

The Pens switched gears as well as continents with their next picks, selecting a pair of European forwards in Round Five.

With the 152nd pick, they grabbed Jan Drozg, a Slovenian-born left wing who skated in Sweden during the past season. Described as a “late bloomer” by Randy Sexton, the 18-year-old tallied 22 goals and 54 points in 39 games, spread over three different leagues.

Competing for Slovenia in the Under 18 World Junior Championships, Drozg earned “Best Forward” and “Top Player on Team” honors.

Three slots later, the Pens drafted Swedish center Linus Olund. Ranked 57th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, the 5’11” 185-pounder totaled 15 points in 39 games for Brynas in Sweden’s top pro league. While serving as captain for Brynas’ minor-league club in 2015-16, Olund notched 34 points (18+16) in only 27 contests.

In the sixth round the Pens nabbed Antti Palojarvi, a puck-moving Finnish defenseman. Swinging back across the pond, they took Will Reilly of RPI, a rugged offensive defenseman who combines size (6’2” 197) with mobility and a heavy shot.

Reilly was named top prospect in the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2015.

Sign ‘Em Up

With the Entry Draft in his rear-view mirror, Rutherford can turn his full attention to fleshing out the Pens’ roster. That includes securing at least some of the 20 players presently in the organization who are eligible to become free agents on July 1.

Most prominent among the pending free agents? Key defensemen Dumoulin and Justin Schultz figure to command JR’s attention—not to mention a healthy chunk of the $20 million in cap space presently available to the Pens’ GM.

Centers Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen no doubt are high on JR’s priority list, too. The duo combined for 31 goals last season, providing the Pens with uncommon depth and production down the middle.

The gritty Bonino, a top shot-blocker, penalty killer and clutch goal scorer, is sure to draw plenty of offers from other teams. Although the 40-year-old Cullen is pondering retirement, he hasn’t ruled out a return.

The Pens may also have an interest in re-signing feisty left wing Chris Kunitz and veteran defensemen Trevor Daley and Ron Hainsey if the price is right. Perhaps even depth defenseman Cameron Gaunce, who did a solid job of plugging gaps on a short-term basis.

Rutherford has encouraged his free agents to test the open market. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if he signs any in advance of free agency. JR inked blueliner Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year deal last week.

Wheelin’ and Dealin’

There were nine more trades in the NHL yesterday, mostly involving draft picks. However, two deals included player swaps.

Calgary acquired defenseman Travis Hamonic and a conditional fourth-round pick from the New York Islanders for a 2018 first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and a conditional second-round pick.

Columbus acquired a 2017 second-round pick from Vegas for forward Keegan Kolesar.