MONTREAL -- The NHL wrapped up its annual draft on Friday, and the Penguins added five new players to their prospect pool with one goaltender, two forwards and two defenseman.
Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor said that the Penguins stuck with the philosophy of drafting the best player available throughout the draft rather than draft by any specific positional or style-related need, and they're happy with the draft class they're leaving Montreal with.
"We were just really happy with the player we got each round," Pryor said. "There's some different player types in different positions. We were really excited about all the guys that we were able to select."
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:
FIRST ROUND, No. 21
Owen Pickering
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-4, 180
Team: Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Pryor's take: "He took major strides defensively, offensively this year. We're excited about his two-way game going forward. ... He skates extremely well for his size. He's grown a lot over the past couple years."
Story: Penguins pick big defenseman Pickering
FOURTH ROUND, No. 118
Sergei Murashov
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Right
Size: 6-0, 167
Team: Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Pryor's take: "He's really calm in the net. He's got good hockey sense for a goalie and good athletic ability. Just someone that we were high on as a staff. We really liked the hockey sense and the calmness that he brings."
Story: Penguins pick Russian goalie Murashov
FIFTH ROUND, No. 150
Zam Plante
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Size: 5-9, 161
Team: Hermantown High (USHS-MN), Chicago Steel (USHL)
Pryor's take: "A tremendous kid. He's got hockey bloodlines. He plays with a big motor for a small player. He's got a lot of hockey sense and a lot of skill. Just a kid that's going to need time to fill out and add to his frame. But when we talk about Zam, it's the skill and hockey sense. He's extremely competitive for a smaller player."
Story: Plante 'plays with a big motor for a small player
SIXTH ROUND, No. 167
Nolan Collins
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Size: 6-3, 193
Team: Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Pryor's take: "He's a big defender. He moves well for his size. He's got a good puck game for his size. And he brings some grit and some physicality to the back end."
Story: Right-handed defenseman Collins brings 'grit, physicality'
SIXTH ROUND, No. 182
Luke Devlin
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Size: 6-2, 185
Team: St. Andrews College (CAHS), moving to West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL), committed to Cornell (NCAA) for 2023-24
Pryor's take: "He's a big center, he moves extremely well for his size. And he brings a lot of compete. He does a really good job on both sides of the puck playing a responsible game and he plays a really competitive game as well."
Story: Penguins pick 'old-school tough' center Devlin
