I would expect the Pens to be busy tomorrow night not only drafting youth, but also looking at possible trades. They were inches away from a Ryan Kesler deal at the deadline, I wouldn't be surprised if talks are opened up again. The name James Neal has been thrown around a lot the last several days as well, he possibly could be on the move for the right price. I also feel it would be in the Pens best interested to get a pick in the 2nd and/or 3rd round to replace the ones they lost.
With all of that in mind, let's take a look at the possible candidates for the Penguins to draft with the twenty-second selection tomorrow night. The following are among the names I have seen linked to the Pens in mock drafts and articles in no particular order.
Jakub Vrana
His time at Linkoping was not spectacular, scoring just 2 goals and 3 points in 24 games. His junior numbers are good, but have been considered stagnant. In spite of this, he excelled on the international level and was a big part of the Czech's World Junior teams the last two years.
According to Goran Stubb (via Bleacher Report reports), Vrana is:
"He plays with determination and drive, has an excellent work ethic and is a very fast skater with excellent all-round skills. He is able to control the game and create a lot of scoring possibilities with his quick moves."
According to different reports, he will take several years to develop and would make his NHL debut during the 2017-18 season at the earliest. He is projected to go 15th to Detroit, but could fall back to the Pens at 22.
In my opinion, the Pens cannot afford a project and that is what Vrana is right now. The Pens need someone who could help this team out within the next two seasons, which if the reports are correct Vrana will not be. I think the Pens should pass on him for other options.
Brendan Perlini
From Central Scouting, Dan Marr's (via Bleacher Report reports) tells us a little about Perlini: "He plays an unselfish game moving the puck around and he gets his stick on pucks and arrives on time for chances. He's a good shooter and has a good touch finishing chances."
Some scouts says he lacks "top-end" offensive talents which could make him a late-first round pick. He was projected to go to the Pens at number 22 in one of the mock drafts. Expected NHL arrival for Perlini is 2016-17.
Perlini is a solid pick and would be my second choice for Pens to take. Big body, has the scoring touch and may be a more "all-around" player than some of the other options. I don't know what to expect from the Pens, and there are two other guys that would work, but he would be my second choice.
Josh Ho-Sang
Chris Edwards' scouting report (via Bleacher Report reports) states: "He handles the puck very well at top speed and sees the ice well. His skating is excellent and his first step is explosive. He cuts to the middle often and can split the defense with surprising speed."
I know what you're thinking, how could this guy possibly fall to number 22? Well, he has some baggage...and some may be being generous. He has an attitude. He would skip practices and caused problems around his teams. According to an article in the Toronto Sun by Steve Simmons:
"According to sources, numerous NHL teams have Ho-Sang on their Do Not Draft List. And only 18 of 30 teams chose to interview him at the recent NHL Combine — and many came away stunned and disappointed. Jim Hughes of the Toronto Maple Leafs says, 'he could go from 10 to 20 and he could go from 30 to 40."
Now whether this is just a young kid that needs to mature or not remains to be seen, but that is a major red flag. If the majority of the teams have him on the "DO NOT DRAFT" list, he may be more than a locker room cancer. As an organization you have to ask yourself, does the risk outweigh the reward on Ho-Sang?
I am torn on this kid. If he truly is the offensive talent they say he is, someone who would be a top 10 pick (top 5 maybe) if none of this other stuff was around, you would be crazy not to take him. But does Pittsburgh want the baggage? Can this kid learn his place and grow up or will he continue to be a problem for whoever takes him? I love the offensive potential and I think he would be the absolute best fit for Sidney Crosby's wing down the road, but those issues whatever they are are not for me. I don't want a sideshow for this organization, this kid may be that. He may be there at 22 and the Pens may take him, but I think there is an awful amount of risk to come with Ho-Sang.
Nikita Scherbak
From Cody Nickolet of the WHL (via Bleacher Report reports), Scherbak's final scouting report: "He's got a full arsenal of offensive tools at his disposal including a 'heavy' wrist shot with a quick release and some very adept vision and passing ability. His skating isn't a strength, but it's not a huge weakness either. His top gear is just fine, but he does tend to be a bit slow out of the gate due to having a low and long stride. He's got a high hockey IQ and shows the ability to arrive at the right place at the right time in offensive situations. He comes from an athletic background as his father is a former soccer player, his mother a basketball player, while his sister plays tennis."
Scherbak could go as early as 11th to the Predators, but many believe that he will fall down boards until the later parts of the first round because of the so called "Russian Factor." He is ranked as high as 12th in other talent pools. It is believed he would only need another a year of Juniors before making the jump straight to the NHL for the 2015-16 season.
This is my top pick for the Pens and I pray that he falls to number twenty two. He is a tall winger, one that will only grow bigger, I think, into a similar mold as Evgeni Malkin. The "Russian Factor" may cause him to fall down draft boards, but man, could you think of a better winger to put with Geno in 2015? Left handed shot. Winger. Russian. Man, sign me up.
Conclusions
I know there are some rumors that the Pens may move the 22nd pick tomorrow night. If it nets a Ryan Kesler, then I would be alright with it. If it doesn't, then I think it is imperative that the Pens use the pick to draft some youth. I personally think that Nikita Scherbak is the best choice and if he falls to 22 the Pens absolutely have to take him. If he is gone, then Perlini would be my second choice only because I don't know what to make of the baggage of Ho-Sang and we don't need a project in Vrana. Only time will tell what the Pens will do tomorrow night. Be sure to tune into the draft live on NBCSN at 7pm. Round 2-7 coverage is Saturday on NHL Network..
For all your Pens draft news, follow the Trib Hockey guys in Rob Rossi, Dejan Kovacevic and Josh Yohe who will be in Philly for the draft. Also, make sure you follow us on twitter at @BigDPensPregame and like us on Facebook. We will have all the updates for the draft tomorrow night on both pages.