For the first time since 2019, the Penguins have a first-round pick in this summer's draft, which is set to be held on July 7-8 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
And just as they did in 2019, the Penguins are locked in at pick No. 21 overall as a result of their first-round exit in the postseason.
Who are some of the intriguing options projected to be selected around the time the Penguins pick? Let's take a look.
IVAN MIROSHNICHENKO
Position: Left wing
Team: Omskie Krylia (VHL)
Size: 6-1, 185
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 11 European skater
Where Miroshnichenko will end up going in the draft feels like a bit of a wild card.
Miroshnichenko was ranked projected to be drafted No. 9 overall in Sportsnet's February rankings. In March, Miroshnichenko was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the same form of cancer that Mario Lemieux had. Some projections had Miroshnichenko expected to drop to the second round after his diagnosis.
At this month's scouting combine in Buffalo, NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said that Miroshnichenko had completed his treatments and has been given the green light to resume training. He is expected to return to play next season.
The clean bill of health for Miroshnichenko is what matters most here, obviously. And now that he's healthy, his draft stock might rise back up to the mid-to-late first round. If he's still around when the Penguins pick at No. 21, he's worth a shot.
Miroshnichenko is coming off of his first pro season in the Russian second league, the VHL. He finished sixth in scoring for Omsk, scoring 10 goals and 6 assists in 31 games.
Miroshnichenko was expected to play for Muskegon in the USHL in the 2021-21 season but stayed in Russia due to the effects of COVID on the season. Muskegon's head coach Mike Hamilton summed up Miroshnichenko's game.
“Ivan is an elite skater, hits like a truck, and has an unbelievable shot," Hamilton said. "He was team captain (in 2019) and led by example- playing in all scenarios of the game. He checks all the boxes."
TSN's Bob McKenzie said that Miroshnichenko "boasts an NHL-calibre shot and plays a solid two-game way game with no discernible shortcomings in his tool box. He projects as a top two-line pro winger and was outstanding at both the U-18 World Championship in Texas and the Hlinka-Gretzky (U-18) Cup this past summer.”
Miroshnichenko is a top-10 talent in this draft who may fall to the Penguins at 21 as a result of his battle with cancer. He'd be a steal.
ISAAC HOWARD
Position: Left wing
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
Size: 5-10, 181
Shoots: Left
Central scouting rank: No. 9 North American skater
Howard was one of the standouts for the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the U18 World Junior Championship this season. He led the team in scoring with six goals and five assists in six games.
Howard led the USNTDP in scoring in both overall play and USHL play this season, edging out projected top-3 pick Logan Cooley in both cases (albeit in a handful more games). Howard scored 33 goals and 49 assists in 60 games with the USNTDP, and 11 goals and 26 assists in 27 USHL games with the program.
The scouting service Smaht Scouting had this assessment of Howard's game:
“Routinely, Howard keeps an excellent eye on the puck and aligns his positioning to where the puck is. In addition, he has the speed with his crossovers to keep quality pace with his puck-carrying attackers. His vision and speed complement each other nicely as he is always on the move, attentive and puts himself in a position where he can be impactful.”
The biggest weakness Howard seems to have in his game is just learning to balance risk-reward with the plays he makes so he doesn't become a liability, but that's an adjustment every young player has to make when they go pro.
Howard is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth starting next season.
FILIP MESAR
Position: Center/wing
Team: HK Poprad (Slovakia)
Size: 5-10, 174
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 20 European skater
Mesar has been playing in the top Slovakian league for the past two seasons now, and has fared well. He scored eight goals and eight assists in 37 games this year, playing on a team with some teammates who are twice his age.
The biggest strength with Mesar's game is his skating. Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino called Mesar a "gifted offensive player who moves around the ice well with good edge work and acceleration."
Scouting website Dobber Prospects referred to Mesar as "a highly skilled, creative winger with a good work rate off the puck. Needs to improve his ability to play through traffic but has the potential to grow into a top-six forward in the NHL."
Mesar was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL in 2021 but elected to remain in Slovakia for the 2021-22 season.
JIMMY SNUGGERUD
Position: Right wing
Team: U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
Size: 6-2, 185
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 11 North American skater
Snuggerud definitely has the pedigree. His father Dave played forward for Team USA, including in the 1988 Olympics, and spent four years in the NHL with the Sabres, Sharks and Flyers. His grandfather James Westby was a defenseman for Team USA, including in the 1964 Olympics.
Snuggerud's shot is among his greatest strength, both in terms of accuracy and release. He finished sixth in scoring for the USNTDP this season, with 24 goals and 39 assists in 59 games. He finished eighth in scoring at the U18 World Junior Championship, with three goals and four assists in six games.
Dobber Prospects wrote that Snuggerud is a "powerful offensive weapon with good size and an array of deadly shots in his repertoire. Has the potential to develop into an effective goal scorer at the NHL level."
Snuggerud is committed to the University of Minnesota for next season.
Snuggerud listed the Penguins as his favorite team in a Q&A with the USNTDP.
JAGGER FIRKUS
Position: Right wing
Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Size: 5-10, 151
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 12 North American skater
Firkus has drawn some attention leading up to the draft, and not just because he has the coolest name by a mile.
Early projections had Firkus anticipated to be picked in the early third-round, but he's risen through the ranks after a strong WHL season that saw him score 36 goals and 44 assists in 66 games, leading Moose Jaw in scoring.
Smaht Scouting projects Firkus as a future top-six forward.
"With his shot release and range, he can score goals will ease and snag top shelf snipes," reads the report from Smaht Scouting. "He does a great job of creating dangerous chances in the slot. With that said, you are getting quality production from him. His play in the defensive zone is not as robust as it is in the offensive zone, but if you pair him with the right defensive-minded forwards, he can be rather effective at the next level.”
With Firkus just over 150 pounds, his size is an obvious area of weakness. But that's something that can be helped.
LIAM OHGREN
Position: Left wing
Team: Djurgardens IF (SHL)
Size: 6-1, 201
Shoots: Left
Central scouting rank: No. 8 European skater
Ohgren is one of the more well-rounded players available in this range.
Ohgren was dominant in the U20 league with Djurgardens this season, scoring 33 goals and 25 assists in 30 games. He got called up to the top Swedish league, the SHL, and scored a goal and an assist in 25 games. He also finished fourth in scoring for Sweden in the U18 World Junior Championship, scoring three goals and six assists in six games to help lead Sweden to a gold medal.
The scouting website DraftPro had this analysis of Ohgren's game:
“If you want a fast, straight-line skater that plays with pace and tempo and can be equally dangerous as a shooter or playmaker, Öhgren is your guy. He may not possess the offensive talent that we see in other top forward prospects in the 2022 draft, but Öhgren has a variety of tools in his toolbox to make him an effective three zone player and make an impact offensively. Hockey IQ, playmaking ability, lethal shot from range, and strong work ethic off the puck. He checks off a lot of boxes you want in a top-six NHL winger. I believe his game/style has zero red flags and at worst he pans out to be a bottom six winger that provides pace and offence to your bottom two lines. I believe Öhgren’s hockey intelligence is one of the main factors that could help him transition into the NHL level.”
Djurgardens lost the relegation round at the end of the season and was bumped down to the second-tier league, Allsvenskan. Ohgren will have the opportunity to play in a professional men's league for a full season as opposed to a junior league, albeit at a lower level.
TRISTAN LUNEAU
Position: Defenseman
Team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Size: 6-2, 189
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 24 North American skater
Luneau was the QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020-21, a year in which he scored four goals and 14 assists in 31 games. He upped his production this season, scoring 12 goals and 31 assists in 63 contests.
Luneau's draft stock may have been impacted by his undergoing offseason surgery last summer to repair a lower-body injury. He took some time to regain his form after returning in November.
Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino wrote that "there’s massive upside in the potential of this player based on puck handling skills and the ability to make a good first pass. Getting completely back to game shape following a lower-body injury will be key in realizing this potential.”
The Penguins already have a prospect on Gatineau -- Isaac Belliveau, their 2021 fifth-round pick -- so we know that the Penguins' scouts have at least had eyes on Luneau and his team. Luneau spent most of the season on the right side of Gatineau's top pairing and Belliveau spent most of the year on the left side of the second pairing, but they did play a number of games as a pair over the course of the season.
NATHAN GAUCHER
Position: Center
Team: Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Size: 6-3, 207
Shoots: Right
Central scouting rank: No. 16 North American skater
Gaucher's production of 31 goals and 26 assists in 66 games isn't anything exceptional in the offense-first QMJHL, but he's more well-rounded than a lot of other forward prospects we see come from that league.
Gaucher is a reliable, two-way center and projects to be more of a power forward type. He was a strong net-front presence for Quebec this season. And at 6 foot 3, 207 pounds, he has the size to be successful in that kind of role. He was the net-front guy on Quebec's power play this season, and also was one of their top penalty-killing forwards.
Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino described Gaucher as a "hybrid player between skilled and power forward. He has a strong work ethic that makes him effective in the faceoff circle and on the PK."
KEVIN KORCHINSKI
Position: Defenseman
Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Size: 6-2, 185
Shoots: Left
Central scouting rank: No. 7 North American skater
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Korchinski led all Thunderbirds defensemen and finished No. 3 overall in team scoring this season with 22 goals and 24 assists in 33 games. His plus-36 rating was first among defensemen and second overall.
This was Korchinski's rookie season, but he did see brief WHL time with Seattle last year, recording 10 assists and a minus-8 rating in 23 games.
With Korchinski being more of a late bloomer, his draft rankings vary greatly, but on average he seems to be projected as a late first-round pick.
Dobber Prospects had this to say of Korchinski:
"Korchinski isn’t the most dynamic defender in the draft, but he plays with poise and composure while consistently making intelligent reads to drive play forward. He is an efficient distributor from the back end and has a good shot when he has space to get it off."
Penguins director of player development Scott Young made at least one trip himself out to see the Thunderbirds and Penguins forward prospect Lukas Svejkovsky (fourth round, 2020) this season. Maybe Seattle's No. 1 defenseman caught his eye while he was out there.