Pittsburgh Penguins 2020 Draft Targets
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis
The Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoff Qualifiers.
While it is a very unfortunate matter for Penguins fans and their organization, they now have the option to keep their 2020 pick and send their 2021 to the Minnesota Wild.
With this year's draft being as deep as it is, it’s pretty clear to say that Pittsburgh would choose this year.
The Penguins will select 15th overall in the draft. This is huge for them as their prospect pool is one of the weakest in the league. I don’t think they should draft on positional needs, they need to draft the best player available to improve their prospect pool.
Dawson Mercer(RW/C) - Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Mercer would be a great pick for the Penguins. While he is mainly a winger, he can be used at center, which is always a nice asset to have from a player. This season he started out with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, scoring 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 26 games. He was later traded to Chicoutimi where he put up six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 16 games. Mercer also played seven games at the 2020 World Junior Championship.
Dawson on transition play.
Mercer is an underrated skater with a strong stride and shifty edgework. He uses his skating to his advantage to move through the opposition. He has solid puck-handling skills, but can over handle at times. He has an amazing quick shot that can easily beat a goalie. Passing wise, he is decent, but could use some work. Defensively, he plays hard in all three zones.
Noel Gunler(LW/RW) - Luleå HF
Gunler is an underrated Swedish sniper coming out of the SHL. He played 45 pro games this season scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 total points. While he does have some inconsistencies in his game, he will be a steal in the future, and the Penguins could certainly use a winger like Gunler.
Noel scores on a breakaway.
Gunler is an all out offensive forward who possesses a lethal shot and smart passing abilities. He has very soft hands and can create lots of scoring opportunities for his teammates as well as himself. He plays with a high motor and is dangerous because of his ability to crash the net fast. The only things he is criticized for are his skating and weight. For his skating it’s not too bad at all to me. He isn’t the best skater on the ice but he possesses decent top-end speed. On the other hand, he will need to work on his defensive game and put on some more weight before the NHL.
Mavrik Bourque(C) - Shawinigan Cataractes
Bourque is a 5’10” playmaking center that I feel would fit well in the Penguins lineup. This season he scored 29 goals and added 42 assists for 71 points in 49 games.
Mavrik scoring a ridiculous goal.
Bourque is known for having a crafty skill set. He is a great skater who controls the pace of play and has an unreal playmaking IQ. He makes accurate and quick passes, leading to lots of goals scored. While he is more of a playmaker, he has a solid shot as well. Defensively, he battled hard for the puck and is not afraid to play the body on the opposition.
Kaiden Guhle(D) - Prince Albert Raiders
Guhle is one of the best two-way defenders in the 2020 draft. This season
At number 15 in this year's draft there are a lot of options. Lots of players the Penguins have to choose from and these are only a few. For more names, Connor Zary, Dylan Holloway, Ridly Greig, and Marat Khusnutdinov are all possible picks.
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