Analyzing the Penguins 2013 Draft Class: Have the Penguins found a long-term No. 1 goaltender?

The Pittsburgh Penguins 2013 draft class is highlighted by the selection of goaltender Tristan Jarry in the second round with the 44th overall selection. Pittsburgh moved up six spots in round 2, trading the 50th, 89th overall selections to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 44th pick.

To get into the second round, the Penguins traded Tyler Kennedy to the San Jose Sharks for the 50th overall pick.

Overall the Penguins made six selections, three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender.

Several years down the road when it’s time to evaluate this draft, it’s going to be all about how Jarry develops. Will the Penguins four to five years from now be saying they traded a role player in Tyler Kennedy who became too pricey and who they didn’t want, for a long-term No. 1 goaltender? They strongly believe that could end up being the case.

“We really liked this goaltender,” GM Ray Shero said Sunday night. “Our guys had him rated very high and it’s the direction that we wanted to go.”

Jarry, 18, went 18-7-0 with a 1.61 GAA and .936 save percentage in 27 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Jarry had 6 shutouts this season, tied for 2nd in the WHL. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 181-pounds.

Scouts regard Jarry as having excellent athleticism and very good lateral movement. Penguins Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting Randy Sexton called Jarry a potential No. 1 goaltender when speaking to reporters. “We see a potential starting goalie. He’s got very good size and he moves well,” Sexton said.

Two officials tell me the Penguins had a first round grade on Jarry.

Center Jake Guentzel (5-9, 153), 3rd round (77th) – Had 29 goals and 73 points in 60 games for Sioux City of the USHL. A smallish player but the Penguins feel he is still going to grow a few inches. Plays a well rounded game, has some leadership qualities. Great vision with the puck, makes plays for his teammates. One scout tells me the feet need to improve but has a good first burst. Guentzel is committed to the university of Nebraska-Omaha.

Defensemen Ryan Segalla (6-1, 184), 4th round (119th) – Penguin scouts have made a priority the last two drafts of adding some denters in the middle rounds, selecting Clark Seymour in the 5th round of the 2012 draft and like Seymour, Segalla fits the mold and is a better prospect. Segalla is a hard hitting defenseman who makes it hard on the opposition and the Penguins really like his skating style for a physical minded defenseman. Segalla will be attending the university of Connecticut.

Defenseman Dane Birks (6-3, 190), 6th round (164th) – Birks is a defenseman with good size who the Penguins regard as a project. Will be attending Michigan Tech in 2014.

Center Blaine Byron (5-11, 163), 6th round (179th) – Skilled playmaking center. 40 Assists in 51 games for Smiths Falls of the Central Canada Hockey League. Will be attending university of Maine.

Winger Troy Joseph (5-11, 165), 7th round (209th) – Joseph is the type of player the Penguins always covet in the late rounds. A gritty role player who plays with a lot of pace and is tenacious on pucks. Joseph had 17 goals and 37 points in 42 games for St. Michaels of the QJHL. He will be attending Clarkson University.