Faceoff Factor

Official Penguins 2009 Draft Wish List

Jesse Marshall | NHL Entry Draft

Jun 26, 02:40 AM | Hype this story!

This draft is a serious crap-shoot as evidenced by the first round mock draft that we did earlier this week.

I have no idea how things will shake down come 7:00 P.M. on Friday night, but I am hoping that a few guys can fall to the Penguins with the 30th overall selection.

Here are just a few of those names.

5. Zach Budish – RW – Team South West (Minn) – 6’3 – 229lbs. – Shoots R – May 9, 1991

Budish is a bruiser. His size makes him nearly impossible to move off of the puck and he’s fantastic in traffic. He tore his ACL playing high school football this year, but has apparently fully recovered and is ready to skate for the University of Minnesota in 2009. Budish’s skating is a bit rough, but it’s exactly what you’d expect for a guy that is his size. The most underrated aspect of his game is his powerful wrist shot. He can get his shot off fast and he puts a lot of mustard on the puck even when he doesn’t fully get ahold of it. Budish would bring a fantastic wing presence to the system and would certainly benefit from playing hockey with the Golden Gophers fantastic program. Add Budish in with prospects like Tangradi and Casey Pierro-Zabotel and you’ve got some real power in the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2008/09 Team South West Stats: 15GP – 14G – 13A – 27PTS – 12PIM

4. Chris Kreider – C – Phillips Academy (Mass) – 6’2 – 201lbs. – Shoots L – April 30, 1991

From one high school player to another, Kreider brings a little bit of the size Budish has in addition to some fantastic wheels. Kreider can skate for days, and he’s a double-edged sword in terms of his abilities as a forward. Not only can he take the puck wide and beat you with speed, but he can take the puck inside and bowl you over with power. In Andover, he nearly scored at will. His 33 goal total on the season was ironically the same number of points the next closest prep player had at the end of the season. He dominated his class of player, but he will have to continue to do so as he prepares to head to Boston College in the 2010-2011 season. Another strong attribute of Kreider’s is his selflessness and his fantastic attitude. He’s a happy-go-lucky kid that loves the game and loves to play with emotion. The reason he may fall to the Penguins is because of the long term nature that his development track will take. Teams with immediate needs may pass on Kreider in lieu of guys that can provide more help in a quicker manner.

2008/09 Phillips Academy Stats: 26GP – 33G – 23A – 56PTS – 10PIM

3. Carl Klingberg – LW – Frolunda Jr. (Swe) – 6’3 – 205lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 28, 1991

Klingberg is another guy that brings a great package of size and speed to the table. He not only has the power to get to the net and cause trouble, but he has the speed to get to loose pucks and break away from the defense. One of the most attractive parts of Klingberg’s game is his ability to get behind the defense, battle in the boards, or find a soft spot in the slot to get open. He can take a beating to make a play, but don’t mistake this youngster for a proto-typical power-forward. He has blazing fast speed and plays the game a lot like Pittsburgh’s own Tyler Kennedy. Think of with T.K. would be like if he added some pounds and a few more inches? Klingberg could use some work in the defensive zone, but overall he’s a solid package of size, speed, and intensity.

2008/09 Frolunda Jr. Stats: 35GP – 13G – 13A – 26PTS – 34PIM

2. Stefan Elliott – D – Saksatoon (WHL) – 6’1 – 180lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 30 1991

Elliott had a run in with a bad shouder diagnosis at the combine that put a damper on his trip and dropped his stock. However, what was purportedly a torn labrum turned out to be nothing, and now Elliott appears to be falling right into the Penguins lap. Elliott is a prototype for what a defenseman has to be in the new NHL. His first pass is absolutely uncanny and his heads up style of play enable him to spring his forwards into the zone with speed as evidenced by the gross amount of assists he had this year. But don’t box Elliott into the offensive defenseman category. His one on one defensive skills are great and he was able to effectively frustrate star WHL forwards all year long. He’s a solid presence on the power-play, has a strong shot, and exhibits good defensive and offensive habits. The WHL scholastic player of the year, Elliott relies on a great combination of smarts and skills to make his teammates better. Unflappable on the ice with a Gonchar-like demeanor, Elliott is looking at a short window of time before he is in the NHL if he can continue to develop like he has.

2008/09 Saskatoon Stats: 71GP – 16G – 39A – 55PTS – 26PIM

1. Ethan Werek – C – Kingston (OHL) – 6’1 – 190lbs. – Shoots L – June 7, 1991

Ethan Werek is a tough customer, but not in the traditional sense of the word. He’s not a fighter and he’s not an agitator, but he just keeps coming and coming at the opposition, wreaking havoc in the boards and getting the puck to the front of the goal. He scored in a variety of ways this year, both banging home rebounds by crashing the net and on lazer wristers from outside the circles. Werek has a solid presence in the defensive zone and he’s in good hands as Frontenacs head coach Doug Gilmour continues to hone his players and make the best of a bad situation in Kingston. Werek has a long reach with solid skating ability and subscribes to a style of play that is very physically demanding. His rookie year in the OHL opened a lot of peoples eyes, but it should come as no surprise, in 37 Provincial Junior games last year, Werek notched 70 points (29+31) and has carried that over to the next level. Werek would be a great fit for the Penguins, adding another forward with good size and a physical presence to the system.

2008/09 Kingston Stats: 66GP – 32G – 32A – 64PTS – 83PIM

Well, there you have it. All we can do now is wait! Stay tuned to Faceoff-Factor for all your NHL draft needs. Our third round mock draft will be coming soon!