Prospect Rankings: Projecting NHL Timetable for the Penguins Top-30 Prospects

Scouting Report: Sneep has the size, skating and physical traits that teams covet in blueliners but he's never been a dominating defenseman at the AHL or college ranks, in addition to struggles of staying healthy.

Strengths/Weaknesses: Strong skating ability, moves the puck well.

- Good positioning, uses his size well

- Plays more physical than he is given credit for and clears the front of the net effectively

- Does well in 1-on-1 situations and uses his speed to his advantage which makes him difficult to beat outside

- Is a good puck distributor but the stats have never matched the talent.

Potential – He's one of those players who has bottom pairing potential and fits the Penguins system but he'll be 25 soon and behind several others in the Penguins system.

2012-2013 Outlook: Harrington is not eligible for the AHL next season, so he'll return to juniors and play under Dale Hunter after he participates in training with the Penguins in September. A realistic timetable for NHL appears to be two years (2014-2015), a year in juniors (2012-2013), year in Wilkes Barre (2013-2014) but he's so developed for a young defenseman that going into 2013-2014 season, he might be ready to push for an NHL spot at somepoint in the 2013-2014 season.

Scouting Report:A defensive defenseman who is not limited offensively with a very high hockey IQ. Has the tools of a defenseman who can play the Penguins way. Has had the opportunity to play in big situations, named to Team Canada this past Winter.

Strengths/Weaknesses For an 19 year old, Harrington is regarded as being more developed defensively than any Penguins prospect in recent years, scouts say.

- He's a shutdown defenseman at the OHL level who can play all situations and plays his own end well from a positional standpoint and gets his stick in lanes effectively.

- Has showed a strong willingness to get better and is regarded as a very reliable defenseman

- Does not play with an edge defensively which is a knock from some scouts

- The intrigue about Harrington that has him so highly regarded in the organization is that he's not limited offensively

- A smooth skater who has a good first pass, he see's the ice really well off the breakout

Potential- Has the upside to be a No. 2 pairing defensive defenseman who can be a factor in all situations

2012-2013 Outlook: Bennett has turned pro and despite chatter of possibly pushing for a top-6 winger spot in camp, Bennett is nowhere near being NHL ready when it comes to his overall game, despite possessing dynamic offensive skills. Bennett didn't play much of all last season at Denver University, struggling to stay healthy in the college ranks, and needs at least a year in the minors to continue to develop and show that he can play against bigger, stronger players and most importantly show his body can stay healthy in the professional ranks. It would be a surprise if he earned a full-time role before 2013-2014 season.

Scouting Report: - Bennett is the most gifted player in the Penguins system possessing excellent offensive skills and shines at playing with skilled players.

Strengths/Weaknesses: Has great hands and playmaking ability

- A creative player who with excellent vision uses his linemates really well and looks to get everyone on the ice involved

- Has an accurate shot and can pick corners well and is impressive with his ability to keep his head up when shooting which is a knock on younger players.

- Once he learns to consistently get to the right areas, he could start reaching his goal scoring potential.

-- Has the skill set where he has that "wow" factor in 1-on-1 plays but from a negative standpoint, gets caught too many times trying to play pond hockey in making that extra move that won't work at the NHL level.

- What to watch for in the AHL is that he lacks consistency in tight physical games and scouts contend he can be taken out of a game easily, especially in physical situations.

-- Bennett doesn't have great or explosive as that's an area he must improve in the AHL

Potential - Has upside of being a top-6 winger and major factor on the power play but has shortcomings in his overall game and must mature as a player (get away from pickup type hockey) and become more of a factor in physical type games

2012-2013 Outlook: Dumuolin left school after his junior season with the idea of playing in the NHL next season with the Carolina Hurricanes as Hurricanes brass believed he could come in and compete for an NHL job in 2012-2013. Being traded to Pittsburgh, Dumuolin is now destined to spend likely the entire 2012-2013 season in the AHL. Pittsburgh's defensive system is very similar to the system employed in Boston College, so many are expecting a quick transition for Dumuolin from the AHL to the NHL.

Scouting Report: Scouts have raved about Dumuolin with one scout telling me after the draft that Dumuolin was the second best defenseman Pittsburgh acquired draft weekend, behind Olli Maatta and that's not a knock on Derrick Pouliot, the No. 8 overall pick, the scout said. He's a strong skater for a player with his size and has good on-ice awareness. With Pittsburgh emphazing their defenseman being able to move the puck, Dumuolin won't be a liability by any means in that area as Dumuolin has good offensive instincts. Defensively has the type of size the Penguins lack and he picks his spots well from a physical standpoint as he's gradually developed a physical game.

Potential – No. 4/No. 5 defenseman

Scouting Report: Is a potential proto-typical power forward with goal scoring potential

Strengths/Weaknesses: - Scored 39 goals in his first season in North America and has some upside as a goal scorer.

- Has a quick shot with a lot of velocity

- Kuhnhackl possesses power forward attributes, once his body feels out. Has a strong power move when driving to the net from the outside.

- Is versatile at wing and can play both sides easily

- Scouts say Kuhnhackl has made improvements in the puck distributing department and is not one dimensional offensively

- What's impressive about Kuhnhackl's overall game is that he has a strong understanding of defensive zone play and is excellent on the boards at getting the puck out of danger

- Biggest weakness in Kunhackl's game is his skating and his body still has a ways to go in developing into a power forward type player

Potential - Low End Top 6 forward/ High End Third Liner

2012-2013 Outlook: Healthy? That's the big question mark surrounding the Penguins 2007 second round pick who just can't stay healthy since turning pro. In 2009-2010, Veilleux had season ending surgery in November, followed by missing 14 games in 2010-2011 to not playing last season after suffering a major knee injury in a preseason game, leading to knee surgery that ended Veilleux's season with a recovery time of over six months. Veilleux who agreed to a one year deal, is entering a crucial season when it comes to his career with the Penguins. If he can stay healthy and max out his potential, he's a strong candidate to push for NHL duty by 2013-2014 season or become a trade chip.

Scouting Report: Has the size, skill and smarts where the Penguins a few years ago envisioned Veilleux being able to push for an NHL role by now. His development is now behind due to injuries but the skill is there where it's too early to write off the soon to be 23 year old. Veilleux has offensive ability, and plays a powerful, north-south style of hockey that is simple and effective, to make up for his foot speed. If he can ever get it together, Veilleux has all the tools to be a strong two-way centerman at the NHL level. The Penguins though may still have plans to develop Veilleux on the wing. If he could stay healthy, Veilleux would be higher on this list.

Potential – No. 3 Center/Top-9 winger

2012-2013 Outlook: Grant found his way into the lineup, mostly as a regular last season with the Baby Pens. He led all defensemen with 10 goals, 37 points and 7 power play goals. With a number of defensemen ready to graduate to the NHL ranks, Grant projects to play a top-2 pairing role next season. At 23, he could be pushing for NHL action in a year or two but likely won't be in Pittsburgh.

Scouting Report: Grant is another offensive puck moving defenseman in the Penguins system. Has a hard shot from the point and his defensive game is starting to come around, making big strides last season.

Potential– Offensive Defensemen

2012-2013 Outlook: Sill is a player who appears stuck in the minors but reminds some members of the Penguins organization of Joe Vitale and could surprise some in training camp and make a surprise run for a roster spot in a year or two

Scouting Report: A tenacious player who fits the stereotype of a grinder. Strong on the forecheck using his speed and there's rarely a time he doesn't finish his checks. Uses his speed to the outside very well and has some offensive ability and a lot of attributes that the Penguins seek out of their role players. In Wilkes Barre has played a third line shutdown role for almost two years now, which enhances his value. He has the look of a possible NHL player if he can find the right situation

Potential – Two-way Role Player