The NHL wrapped up its virtual draft on Saturday, and the Penguins added five new players to their prospect pool with two forwards and three defenseman.
Penguins director of player personnel Chris Pryor said after Day 2 that the Penguins aimed to get bigger in size with their picks.
"You would always like to get a little bigger, a little edgier," Pryor said. "You know in the playoffs, it gets very competitive. So it always helps to have those attributes, but you've got to be careful you don't sacrifice on the other side. You still have to be able to make a play with that little black thing on the ice. There is a balance there. And we felt that with all three of these (defensemen), especially notably the big defenseman, we're talking about that they do have some size, but they all can play the game. ... We're happy with all our picks."
Here's a look at who they chose, what Pryor had to say about the player, and a link to our full coverage of the player:
SECOND ROUND, No. 58
Tristan Broz
Position: Center/left wing
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-0, 178
Team: Fargo Force (USHL), committed to University of Minnesota
Pryor's take: "He can skate. He's got skill. He's a competitive kid. He can play center or wing. There's a versatility there."
Story: Penguins draft playmaking forward (and longtime fan) Broz
FIFTH ROUND, No. 154
Isaac Belliveau
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 185
Team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Pryor's take: "Isaac can play both sides of the puck, sometimes he gets a little caught up and he's just got to tone it down a little bit. But there's a lot there to like. He's a bigger kid. The parts of the game, some of these kids, that's just a natural progression of them learning as they get older and a maturity level as far as what they can and cannot do."
Story: Defenseman Belliveau has 'a little edge' to game
SEVENTH ROUND, No. 194
Ryan McCleary
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-2, 180
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Pryor's take: "You think next year at this time where he's going to be, he just started to get into his own body and feel for the game. Big, right shot defenseman. He's got a lot of attributes there to like."
Story: 'Raw' defenseman McCleary brings offensive instincts
SEVENTH ROUND, No. 215
Daniel Laatsch
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-5, 183
Team: Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), committed to University of Wisconsin
Pryor's take: "Daniel's got big upside (at Wisconsin), he's in a good spot, we can just put him there to develop and grow, grow into his body and get all synced up. He knows how to play the game, he's just got to get stronger and mature."
Story: 6-foot-5 defenseman Laatsch has 'big upside'
SEVENTH ROUND, No. 218
Kirill Tankov
Position: Center/wing
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-1, 181
Team: SKA Varyagi(MHL)
Pryor's take: "He's got a good skillset, kind of long and lean. And as with the college kids, it's kind of conducive for for Kirill here, we can just leave them there and let them develop. There's no rush, just patience."
Story: Russian forward Tankov has 'good skillset'
