Faceoff Factor

2007 NHL Entry Draft – Final Analysis

Jesse Marshall | NHL Entry Draft

Jun 22, 11:05 AM | Hype this story!

After much discussion and debate, the day has arrived. Here is a final listing, in reverse order, of the five players I think are most suited for the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 20th overall pick.

#5. T.J. Brennan – D – St. John’s Fog Devils (QMJHL) – April 3, 1989 – 6’0 – 204lbs – Shoots L

Brennan is a guy whose playing style ought to be familiar to Penguins fans. He is a mixture of a Ryan Whitney and Alex Goligoski all in one. Brennan is a big kid, but his mobility is top of the line and he can get around well for a defenseman his size. This is a guy who was totally off the board at the start of the year, but he had such a marked improvement as the season drew to a close it’s impossible to ignore his potential. Brennan did it all this year, including earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors for the “Q”. He can mix it up in front of the net and play tough, but ultimately this defenseman’s strong point is going to be in moving the puck and generating chances offensively. This kid is already one of the biggest mysteries in the draft, but if the Penguins should take him and his blossoming continues as such, they will have the most impressive retinue of young, puck moving defensemen in the NHL.

2006/07 Statistics: 68GP – 16G – 25A – 41Pts – 79PIM

#4. Billy Sweatt – LW – Colorado College (WCHA) – September 21, 1988 – 6’0 – 180lbs – Shoots L

This is the fastest set of wheels in this draft class. Sweatt can out-speed anyone and is a great north/south skater with pretty good agility to boot. The question will ultimately be whether or not he can improve his offensive game. His stick handling is there, but he lacks the when and where to release the puck. With his speed, Sweatt always is taking defenders wide and passing up shooting opportunities. He also often is knocked for having a lack of strength, but that’s an asset he’ll develop as he grows. Character issues were raised when he showed up to the combine in a cast after punching a wall, but I disregard those concerns for the most part. Overall, Sweatt could develop into a good second-line forward with great speed and good play-making abilities.

2006/07 Statistics: 30GP – 9G – 17A – 26Pts

#3. Lars Eller – C – Frolunda Jr. (SWE) – May 8, 1989 – 6’1 – 198lbs – Shoots L

Eller has the most consistent, even offensive capability out of anyone in this range. Hehas a great wrist shot, he can release a cannon from the point, and his play-making skills are exceptionally strong. Eller can dominate on special teams and has superb vision. When the going gets tough, Eller gets going. The big question is, can he translate that success to this level in this country or has he peaked this year and will his development stagnate? The size and smarts are there. I’ve heard several scouts decline to point out any weakness in Lars’ game because there simply are not serious concerns about him. Anytime you have that attribute for a player, you have to jump on it. This would immediately help solidify the wing position for the Penguins.

2006/07 Statistcs: 39GP – 18G – 37A – 55Pts

#2. Nick Petrecki – D – Omaha Lancers (USHL) – July 11, 1989 – 6’3 – 213lbs – Shoots L

Petrecki is an absolute monster in this class. He will hit anything that moves and makes his presence known on the ice every time he touches it. Lateral quickness is said to be his biggest strength and overall he has a good set of wheels for his size. I would say his mobility is already NHL caliber. His biggest strengths are the fact that he is alert in his end and pays good attention to the game. He is fast to the puck in the corner and can be a menacing presence along the boards. His first pass is good. He needs to improve his patience in passing just a bit and start to carry it up to create space himself. Nick isn’t afraid of anything and will stand up to just about anyone. His biggest weaknesses at this point are in decision making (some scouts say he has a low hockey IQ) and discipline. His penalties are what hold him back from being a consistent force in this draft. If he can calm himself down and improve his patience a tad, he has the makings of one of the better stay-at-home defenders in this draft class. Petrecki will be attending Boston College in the fall.

2006/07 Statistics: 54GP – 11G – 14A – 25Pts – 177PIM

#1. Oscar Moller – C – Chilliwack Bruins (WHL) – January 22, 1989 – 5’11 – 179lbs – Shoots R

Moller is a tenacious young forward with the skill set of a Swedish forward and the attitude of a hard-working North American skater. Moller plays with good grit and is like a pit-bull on the puck. His forecheck is relentless and he has a true nose to find open space in front of the net. Moller’s feet are always moving and that is his strong suit. A shifty forward, Moller’s best skating strength is cutting ability and his start/stop motion. His balance is great and he has a good enough top end gear already to carry him through the neutral zone. Moller can play any style no matter what the situation. He is a good package of finesse, grit, and patience all in one. His passing is crisp. His shot is quick. He is good in the defensive zone. He is reportedly a great listener and extremely coachable. He describes his own style of play as “kamikaze”. Strength is a concern but that is about average for any kid in this draft class. Sometimes Moller can also get caught looking or taking on too many defenders at once, forcing a play that isn’t there. Overall, I feel he is the best fit for this team because of his offensive set, his ability to get behind the defense and find open lanes, and his attitude. He could fit in great with the Penguins and has a good skill set to be a top-four winger on this team playing with one of the Penguins’ great, young centers.

2006/07 Statistics: 68GP – 32G – 37A – 69Pts – 50PIM