Scouts Buzz: 10 Forwards to watch for Pens at No. 23

The Pittsburgh Penguins enter the 2011 NHL Entry Draft with five selections, including the 23rd-overall pick in the first round. The 2011 draft will be held Friday, June 24 (Round 1) and Saturday, June 25 (Rounds 2-7) at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.

Round 1 will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and will be nationally televised by VERSUS. The NHL Network will carry Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

Along with their first-round pick, the Penguins have picks in the second round (54th overall), fifth round (144th), sixth round (174th) and seventh round (209th).

Pittsburgh acquired its seventh-round selection from the San Jose Sharks at last year’s draft in exchange for the Penguins’ 2010 seventh-round pick.

Under GM Ray Shero, the Penguins philosophy is to take the best player available no matter what position. They are not a team that drafts based on need as NHL players take years to develop. They also see trade value down the road in first rounders, which also won’t keep them away from drafting a defenseman or center.

However, a good bet is that the Penguins draft a winger in the first round.

Adding a natural gifted goal scoring winger to the system should be a top priority and the Penguins are a team where they should consider taking some risk with a high upside offensive player who might be a raw prospect or whose overall game has some concerns.

That type of player though isn't always considered a fit with Penguin scouts.

This is a draft where players all over the board, especially in the 15-30 range. It's also a draft that isn't considered strong by any means.

This the year to lose a third round pick like the Penguins did last June in acquiring the rights to Dan Hamhuis.

Here are 10 forwards to watch for the Penguins (in no particular order) that are believed to be of interest and projected to go in the 17-30 range.

Matthew Puempel

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200

Position: Left Wing | Stats: 55 GP - 34 G - 35 A - 69 PTS

Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Ranking: No. 28 NHL Central Scouting (NAS), No. 28, TSN

Scouting Report

One name scouts are raving about as a fit with Pittsburgh at No. 23 is Peterborough Petes left winger Matthew Puempel (6-0, 200, No. 28 Central Scouting).

Puempel is regarded as one of the best pure goal scorers in the draft and is extremely gifted offensively.

He scored 33 goals as a rookie in 2009-2010 and had 34 goals in 55 games last season before suffering a hip injury in February that has hurt his stock.

"Without the other factors in play, the kid is a top-15 talent and one of the most gifted goal scorers, " an amateur scout on the condition of anonymity told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com.

The scout indicated that Pittsburgh doesn't have a player in their system that comes close to Puempel's natural goal scoring ability.

Scouts indicate from a goal scoring prowess, there also isn't a better player than Puempel that would be available at No. 23. Puempel’s overall game though, doesn't round out as nicely as others who figure to be available and he's not an extremely safe pick.

Zack Phillips

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 181 lbs

Position: Center | Stats: 67 GP - 38 G - 57 A - 95 PTS

Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Ranking: No. 15 NHL Central Scouting (NAS), No. 28 TSN

Tomas Jurco

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 193 lbs

Position: RW | Stats: 60 GP - 31 goals - 24 A - 56 PTS

Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Ranking: No. 20 Central Scouting (NAS), No. 29 TSN

Scouting Report

The Penguins/Saint John's connection has been evident past couple years and two forwards of interest include centerman Zack Phillips and skilled winger Tomas Jurco.

Saint John Sea Dogs assistant coach Marc Hussey on Phillips: "Good playmaker, see's the ice extremely well, " Hussey told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.

"Very crafty on the power play and what I like about his game is that he likes to challenge defensemen."

"He's deceiving fast and gets everybody watching, " Hussey said.

A scouting report from TSN's top 60 draft rankings called Phillips skating ability a weakness: "skating is the issue, a one-speed guy, needs to work get stronger, and work on his first step, " TSN Scout Grant McCagg wrote.

Hussey didn't necessarily agree with that.

"Seeing him in practice as I do, I see it a little bit differently, " Hussey said. "He has a fairly good skating stride and what he needs to work on is different speeds.

Phillips has played some wing in the "Q" but he's viewed as more of a natural centerman.

"He played a little bit of wing last year, " Hussey said. "Think the way he moves the puck, he's a pretty good fit at center. Dishes the puck so well".

Hussey on Tomas Jurco: "Amazing amount of skill, " Hussey said. "I've been around this game for a long time and I haven't seen too many players with his type of skill. Puckhandling skill is unbelievable, " Hussey said.

The biggest knock on Jurco as it is with many young players is consistency and being able to bring it every night. That was an issue for Jurco this season at Saint John's but for young players that is often over-rated.

However, he has star potential which makes him a very intriguing player going into Friday's first round.

"In the Memorial Cup he was outstanding and it seems to have really rejuvenated his stock into the first round discussions, " Hussey said.