Penguins/NHL
Day 2 Second Round Selection
The Pittsburgh Penguins selected defenseman Philip Samuelsson in the second round (60th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday in Montreal.
Philip, 17, is the son of former Penguins defenseman, Ulf Samuelsson, who won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992.
Samuelsson played for Team USA at the 2009 Under-18 World Championships, helping them win a gold medal in front of a home crowd in Fargo, North Dakota. He recorded three points (0-3-3) and tied for a team-high plus-nine rating. He played for Team Sweden at the 2008 Four Nations tournament in Lake Placid, New York, but will play for the U.S. in further international tournaments.
The 6-3, 198 pound defenseman ranked 60th among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting final rankings.
Samuelsson appeared in 54 contests for the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL), collecting 22 assists along with 60 penalty minutes.
The native of Scottsdale, Arizona was born in Leksand, Sweden and played his minor hockey for PF Changs in Phoenix, the Connecticut Lazers and the Philadelphia Phantoms before joining the USHL and committing to Boston College.
Scouting Report
Samuelsson is regarded as a defensive defenseman but he is not regarded as a punishing hitter like his father was.
Some scouts I’ve talked too are indicating Samuelsson was a major reach at selection #60.
Samuelsson greatest attribute is his ability
on penalty kill. Clears the front of the net well, good positioning and and always has his stick in passing lanes.
The knock on him is that he is not very aggressive for a player his size and does not step up on incoming forwards. From what I’m hearing Samuelsson is a project and a 4th round talent.
3rd round Selection
The Pittsburgh Penguins selected forward Ben Hanowski in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Hanowski, 17 had a prolific hockey career at Little Falls high school in Minnesota. The forward scored had 73 goals and 135 points (73 goals, 62 assists) in 31 games, this season, including 14 hat tricks and 10 games with six-or-more points.
The 6-2, 198 pound winger was ranked 35th among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting final rankings.
Hanowski finished his career at Little Falls with 405 points (196 goals, 209 assists) while setting the record for most points in a high school hockey career, surpassing an 11-year-old mark of 378 points.
Hanowski made four appearances with the Little Falls Flyers at the Minnesota Class ‘A’ State Tournament. In his career he has only lost three times on his home rink, finishing with an overall high school record of 105 wins, 16 losses and two ties.
The native of Little Falls, Minnesota was named the Associated Press State Player of the Year and a Mr. Hockey Finalist. Hanowski is committed to St. Cloud State University.
Scouting Report
People I’ve talked too really like this pick. He has put up great offensive numbers but will need some time in the college ranks.
Has the offensive skills but wasn’t as highly recruited as his numbers may indicate. Will need to work on his play in the defensive zone while at St. Cloud State.
His former high school coach has raved about the leadership abilities, character he has.
Projects to be a 55-60 point player in the NHL, second line winger.
Rounds 4-7
Fourth round (121st overall) – Nicholas Petersen, a 6-3, 183-pound forward from Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Petersen, 20, had 37 goals and 90 points in 68 games this season with Shawinigan.
Fifth round (123rd) – Alex Velischek, a 6-0, 200-pound defenseman from Delbarton High School in New Jersey. Velischek, 18, is the son of former NHL defenseman Randy Velischek and will play college hockey at Providence. He had 16 goals and 51 points in 30 games as a senior at Delbarton, where the team won the New Jersey state championship for the second straight year.
Fifth round (151st) – Andy Bathgate, a 6-1, 175-pound center from Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League. Bathgate’s playing time was limited this season following shoulder surgery, but the 18 year-old compiled four goals and 17 points in 49 games over parts of two seasons with Belleville. His grandfather, Andy Bathgate, was a Hockey Hall of Famer and an original Penguin. The Penguins acquired the pick by trading the rights to goaltender Chad Johnson to the New York Rangers.
Sixth round (181st) – Viktor Ekbom, a 6-1, 187-pound defenseman from Oskarshamn in the Swedish Elite League. Ekbom, 20, helped Sweden to a silver medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships, contributing two assists. He had one goal and six points in 15 international appearances for Sweden.
The Penguins traded the final pick of the draft in the seventh round (211st Overall) to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a sixth round selection at the 2010 Entry Draft.
