1st let me say this...I know alot about the NFL draft...I depend on no one other then people I trust from here(HN Perch Posters). I watch very little Jr hockey...I don't have many options living in Dixie to be honest. What I do have is several trusted go to sources.

1.Source one is Jesse Marshall and Mikey from Faceoff Factor...Sick sick Pens coverage.
1A.Former Jr. hockey players...This is a great resource...We have a pro hockey team in town I am heavily involved with...I had plenty of adult pops with the boys
2.Various posters I trust from message boards...Example...If Seabs or Fractal posts I like this hockey player...I will check him out
3.Canadian media outlets...I love Bob McKenzie he talks facts not draft.

All that being said....I won't go guess beyond round 2

3 players I could see the Pens drafting in each round

Round 1

1.Mikhail Grigorenko Center 6'3/200

Scouts take:

Grigorenko is a very special kind of talent who scouts have been hearing about for many years. He absolutely burst onto the scene last year with a tremendous performance at the Under-18s. He’s an exceptionally gifted player who can control the flow of a hockey game seemingly at will with elite puck skills, vision, offensive creativity, and overall hockey sense. He makes high level dekes seem effortless and is the kind of player who is able to slow the game down to his pace rather than try to keep up with it. His ability as a playmaker is really special as he is the classic “eyes in the back of his head” type of player who consistently makes high-level reads quickly and effectively…he’s the kind of talent who NHL sources have described as the best guy on the ice while he’s going at 75%.

2.Tomas Hertl Center 6'2/198

Scouts take:

Tomáš certainly did not hurt his draft stock in this year’s NHL Draft Combine as he finished tied for 1st in VO2 MAX testing and an impressive 2nd in the hand-eye coordination test. He exhibits excellent puck protection skills, utilizing his strength and puckhandling. He doubles as a crafty goal-scorer and generous playmaker. He is an offensive catalyst with excellent vision and processes the game at a high level.Hertl has been a very under the radar prospect but brings great skill and a versatile mind to his team. He has the ability to really stand out, even on rosters with higher profile players. He compliments a variety of skill types and can really amplify the availability of space for his teammates. He has developed steadily over the course of the past few seasons and could still improve his offensive output.”

3.Henrik Samuelsson RW 6'2/195 (Son of Ulf brother of Phillip)

Scouts take:

I have had the opportunity to watch Henrik 15-20 times this year and overall I would say that he is at least as good as he is ranked in the draft at this point. I think he would be very good value as an early second round pick. Guys like Chris Stewart and Ryan Getzlaf were drafted 18th and 19th overall and Milan Lucic was taken 50th overall which was a steal. Henrik may or may not get to those guys’ level but he is the same type of player and could fill that role to some degree. He is actually more offensively skilled than a lot of power forwards and can score goals in more ways than just going hard to the net. He can also drop the gloves and is a pretty decent fighter.

Round 2

1. Christoval Boo Nieves LW 6'2/184

Scouts take:

A 2012-eligible, but excellent NHL prospect given his natural size, skating and offensive skills. At 6-3, 185 has the frame to be an attractive option in the pros when he fills out. Outstanding skater who accelerates quickly and is extremely agile and elusive. Explosive burst and separation gear; can turn defenders easily as he attacks with speed to the outside and isn’t afraid to go into traffic. Excellent stickhandler; confident with the puck and wants it on his stick. Highly creative and just seems to have a knack for making plays all over the offensive zone.

2. Dalton Thrower D 6'0 189

Scouts take:

Dalton Thrower is one my favorite prospects in this draft. He is gritty, tough and intelligent on both sides of the puck. He isn’t afraid of anyone and has some seriously underrated puck management skills. His development has been very strong and he can play a variety of roles for a team. He has some Darius Kasparaitis in his game but with more offense and reminds most people of a Kevin Bieksa sort.

3.Michael Houser G 6'1/190 {Not from the Panic}

FC's take:

Local kid who has overcome every obstacle in his life...Pens have a need he is ranked the 53rd best draft prospect
http://triblive.com/mobile/msports/1914125-81/houser-local-hockey-nhl-2011-deformity-draft-despite-drafted-foot

I used Craig Button TSN.CA and The Hockey writers.com as resources

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You just like the idea of having a Michael Houser on the team, hopefully playing lead.

I'll add two names - Slick Martin Frk (Czech via QMJHL) and America-born Orpik lite, Brady Skjei.

1st . Widespread Panic is simply awesome

I just liked Houser's heart and soul when he played lead...Learning later he was fighting a losing battle with cancer he won a spot in my heart...He died on the road with his family...His wife kids and brothers the band.

2nd. Martin Frk...I would love to trade down into the 2nd pick up another pick and draft Frk. Frk's concussion brings a health risk. Scouts have various opinions.

[...] Frk is a very skilled player who has the ability that if he pans out, to make a lot of highlight reels. He has excellent puck skills with a lot of flash to his game and looks very coordinated while handling the puck. Frk is also good at handling the puck while getting checked, driving the net or getting his stick on loose pucks. He has one of if not the best shot in the draft with a one-timer that rockets off his tape that is equivalent to the shots of elite finishers. Frk certainly has the ability to scare many defensemen and goalies during his career and he will be the kind of forward who will be a fixture on the left point on a power play because of his trigger abilities. Despite being about 6’0, Frk is pretty strong and shows good muscle during his 1 on 1 battles, has a gritty side to his game and even with slight below-average size he’ll be fine in the physical game due to a big lower body. [...] - Hockey Prospectus’ Corey Pronman Twitter account: @coreypronman

***

“First and foremost, there’s the injury. Sitting out the first half of the season with a concussion obviously didn’t do him any favours. But overall, I think he’s a pretty raw prospect. He’s going to be a bit of a project and he’ll need some development time before he pays off to the team that drafts him. He’s got that big shot, but his other offensive abilities still need to be refined. I felt his one-on-one skills and his puckhandling were improved this season compared to his rookie year, but he still needs some work on his decision making in the offensive zone, when to shoot, when to pass, things like that. The main knock you always hear about him is his skating, but I really think that major area that he needs work on is his conditioning. Sitting in the press box and being unable to work out for a few months only made it worse, but you could see both late in games, near the end of his shifts that he was worn out by the time he got back to the bench. I think that was also a factor as Halifax’s playoff run stretched long. If he gets a full summer of training and his NHL club puts him on a program, I think you’ll see a lot of improvement in his game, not just his skating, but his ability to protect the puck, his hustle on the ice. One of the things I like about Frk is that he plays with a bit of an edge, he’s not afraid to mix it up and I think that’s just another aspect of his game that will improve as his conditioning improves. I think he’s a prospect that could pay off rather nicely for whatever NHL team ends up drafting him, with a little bit of patience and a little bit of work.” – Hockey’s Future’s Kevin Forbes Twitter account: @kforbesy

***

“After putting up 50 points in his rookie season, Frk is a guy I thought would take a big step forward this year. The concussion he sustained in September really took a toll on his season and forced him to miss three months and the WJC. He struggled when he returned, but started to produce during the last quarter of the season. He has decent size and plays with the type of nastiness and grit a lot of teams covet. He is a goal scorer first and foremost, and probably has one of the best shots in the entire draft. His skating needs improvement, but he’s very strong on the puck and can make something out of nothing. Durability and consistency concerns could turn teams off and see him drop to the second round. He is a classic high risk, high reward prospect.” – Dobber Prospects’ Derek Leblanc Twitter account: @d_leb

***

“An very good skater, Frk is may not be the quickest but he’s difficult to stop once he gets going due to his powerful core strenght. His shot on net is lethal and more often than not, he hits the net. In my opinion, his passing ability is underrated. His peripheral vision is not outstanding but he can spot and open team-mate and get the puck to him quickly. When he’s on his game, he’s a hard hitter who can disrupt opponents and take them off their game. He does have to improve his defensive game as he tends to hesitate a little in his zone. An issue that bothered some scouts is how he handled adversity in the form of the concussion he suffered in august. He seemed to have really not done much to try and stay in shape. His game reminds to that of Erik Cole a little.” - McKeen’s Rick Springhetti Twitter account: @rick1042

I have no clue...He dangled the shit out of some players on you tube...He has zero issues with the use of excessive sauce on the sauce pass...He is very skilled...A willing hitter...He plays a sand paper game

Brady Skjei is a mobile 2 way defensemen a bigger version of GoGo...I've never seen him play...Some negative shit online?

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I love Houser. Spending 23 of my 26 years in London I will always be a Knights fan. If you look at his #'s you see a solid goalie, but just remember #'s in the OHL and Q are inflated compared to the WHL. I believe this is the year that Shero takes a goalie in the 2nd or 3rd round.

I see no way Grigorenko is available when we pick. I know there's the Russian factor, but he doesn't seem to be a headcase.

I like Samuelsson. His play in the Mem Cup shows that he fits the Pens system perfectly.

Two more guys that could be around when we pick and seem like a fit: Zemgus Girgensons and Sebastian Collberg. Both have skill and are strong skaters. Girgensons would be provide us that bigger body should Staal not be with the team in a couple years. Collberg just oozes skill. Don't let the 0 points in the SEL fool you.

I admit I haven't been following prospects as much this year, but the draft is never boring. As always, watch out for Brian Burke to make a huge splash. There's a rumour floating around that he wants to get the #1 and #2 pick in the draft (similar to what he did to get the Sedins). He'd then take Yakupov and Grigorenko/Galchenyuk

I know zilch about prospects but I do know the organizational goaltending depth is sorely lacking. Very curious how it all shakes out.

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I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me

Just posting because COC kicks ass!

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And then you take a good look around and they stole your rock n roll
And once it's gone you'll never get it back

On a related note...


Anyone else going to this event?

I went to the NHL draft in '97 when it was at the Civic Arena. Honestly, it was the most boring event ive ever attented in my entire life lol

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