It's no secret that Mike Sullivan likes to have versatile players on his roster, guys who can fill multiple roles and move up and down the lineup.
That means he probably was pretty happy when the Penguins used their first choice in the 2021 NHL draft, No. 58 overall, on forward Tristan Broz of Fargo in the United States Hockey League Saturday.
Although Broz played primarily at center when he was younger, he has gotten considerable work on left wing during the past few seasons at Fargo. And he's content to be deployed in both.
"I don't really have a preference," he said. "I'm comfortable with either. Whatever the team needs, I'm happy to play."
Part of the reason Broz convinced the Penguins that he should be part of their future is simply that they were able to watch him during the past winter. Some junior leagues had reduced schedules or shut down completely, but the USHL stayed in operation, so scouts got a good look at prospects there.
"One of the advantages we had this year, from a scouting standpoint, is that USHL is one of the leagues that played all year," said Chris Pryor, the Penguins' director of player personnel. "So we have a number of (evaluations) from a number of people on our staff. ... We felt we knew the player pretty well."
Broz is 6 foot, 178 pounds and had 19 goals and 32 assists in 54 games with the Force last season. NHL Central Scouting, which rated him the No. 28 prospect among North American skaters, characterized him as a player with good speed and hands who is primarily a playmaker.
That meshes with Broz's self-assessment.
"I'm a pretty skilled, playmaking forward who likes to use my creativity, my hands and stick-handling ability, to set up chances and create offense," he said.
Pryor's scouting report is pretty much the same.
"He can skate," Pryor said. "He's got skill. He's a competitive kid. He can play center or wing. There's a versatility there."
Not surprisingly, Broz is drawn to players with a knack for manufacturing offense.
"Growing up, I watched a lot of Patrick Kane," he said. "Recently, Nikita Kucherov, Jonathan Huberdeau. It's not necessarily that i am (like) those guys, but I try to incorporate some things from their game into mine."
Broz is a native of Bloomington, Minn. and is committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
"Tristan Broz is one of the most gifted players in the draft," Golden Gophers coach Bob Motzko said, in a pre-draft statement released by the school. "He has excellent skills and will bring the crowds to their feet with his ability to make plays. While playing in the USHL, he learned to compete at a high level and bring grit to his game that will make him a complete player."
Pryor suggested that Minnesota's program should give Broz the time and setting needed for his game to mature.
"He's in a good place," Pryor said. "He's a good player. We just need to show patience and let him develop."
Although no one from the local tourism office was available to discuss Broz's selection, people there presumably were delighted to hear him describe seeing the city for the first time after coming through the Fort Pitt Tunnel as "one of the coolest things ever." That happened when he visited in 2019, for a USHL event in Cranberry.
However, Broz never made it here in his capacity as a fan of the franchise, even though he said he has been one since childhood.
That longtime rooting interest might explain why he felt it was "surreal" to be selected by the Penguins.
"I truly have, since I was a little kid, been a big Penguins fan," Broz said. "I always loved (Sidney) Crosby when I was younger, so it kind of feels (as if it's come) full circle, to be drafted by them.
"When I was pretty young, I wanted to root for the team that was winning. And also, obviously, they were just a really fun team to watch. I always loved Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin -- they were two of my role models growing up -- and the Wild was always kind of a boring team to watch, boring style, so I had to take my fandom elsewhere."
SCOUTS SAY
Elite Prospects: "Broz is a player with an attacking mentality. He’s like a shark sniffing out blood in the water when he’s off-the-puck in the offensive zone, circling the perimeter, waiting for soft ice to emerge, or charging headlong to the net-front as low-to-high passing plays develop. He reads developing plays, creates options for his linemates, and adapts well during cycle plays."
Hockey Sense: "Broz has been a solid USHL player for the last two years, but he really took a step and played a leading role on a Fargo team that went to the Clark Cup Final this year...He brings a work ethic and energy to each shift and makes plays. Broz is a solid scorer who takes advantage of his chances when he gets them, but he’s also a solid passer with outstanding offensive-zone awareness. He takes a lot of pucks to the net and finds ways to get inside defenses with his puck skills and extra effort."
Smaht Scouting: “Overall, Tristan Broz looks to be the style of player who can play an effective, two-way game, and be a key contributor to a team’s secondary scoring options. Broz’ versatility makes him an interesting choice for teams looking to add depth and scoring in their middle-six forward corps. As mentioned above, Broz is capable of playing any forward position, but his skillset and talents may be best suited as a winger at the next level.”
FC Hockey: “Good build-up through crossovers, shows some good speed leading the exits and through transition, nice change of direction to get through the NZ. However, does lose a few races as the game goes on. Tries to dangle through three defenders and loses it. Definitely looks to cheat towards the (offensive zone) at times, sometimes paying off, sometimes getting caught.”
Dobber Prospects: "A well-rounded player that can generate offense with heads up passes and finish plays with an accurate shot. He is a decent skater who plays a responsible game and could develop into a secondary scoring option at the NHL level."
