A closer look at every Penguins NHL Draft selection
Second round (51st overall)
Zachary Lauzon, D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Shoots: Left
2016-17 stats: 3 goals, 18 assists, plus-42, 90 PIMs in 63 games
Noteworthy: Defensive defenseman said he patterns his game after San Jose's Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. ... Not known for high-end offense. Scored 4 goals in 135 career games with Rouyn-Noranda. ... The Penguins liked him more than most. He was ranked the 143rd-best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton says: “He's not as offensive-oriented as other people, but he moves the puck well. Highly competitive. He'll fit right in in Pittsburgh.”
Third round (93rd)
Clayton Phillips, D, Fargo (USHL)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 182
Shoots: Left
2016-17 stats: 7 goals, 13 assists, plus-18 in 63 games
Noteworthy: Offensive defenseman known for his skating. Said he patterns his game after Kris Letang. Defensive-zone work a question mark. ... Minnesota native headed to University of Minnesota after one more junior season. ... Another player the Penguins liked better than the consensus scouting ranking. NHL Central Scouting had him as the 99th-best North American skater.
Sexton says: “Highly mobile. He can really skate. He has terrific vision. A really solid puck mover.”
Fifth round (152nd)
Jan Drozg, LW, Leksands U18 (Swedish juniors)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 174
Shoots: Right
2016-17 stats: 19 goals, 30 assists in 35 games
Noteworthy: Looking to become the fourth Slovenian to play in the NHL. Anze Kopitar is the most accomplished. ... Two-time winner of top forward award of the U18 World Championships second division. ... Expected to play for Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL next season.
Sexton says: “A little bit of a late bloomer. He's an offensive player. He's very slender. He needs time to put on strength, but we're excited to have him because he brings some offense.”
Fifth round (154nd)
Linus Olund, C, Brynas (Sweden)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Shoots: Left
2016-17 stats: 8 goals, 7 assists in 39 games
Noteworthy: A two-way center with good hockey sense. ... At age 20, expected to play one more year in Sweden before joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. ... Coming off a breakout season that included 10 points in 20 playoff games for the Swedish Hockey League runners-up.
Penguins European scout Patrik Allvin says: “We see him as a bottom-six player. … Really took a big step the second half. We're excited about him. He's going to have a big role in Brynas next year.”
Sixth round (186th)
Antti Palojarvi, D, Luuko (Finnish juniors)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 174
Shoots: Left
2016-17 stats: 1 goal, 10 assists, in 47 games
Noteworthy: Expected to develop into more of an offensive defenseman as he matures. ... Part of a bumper crop of Finnish defensemen, which limited his exposure to international competitions.
Allvin says: “Will probably need a couple extra years. I would definitely say more of a longer-term prospect.”
Seventh round (217th)
Will Reilly, D, RPI (NCAA)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Shoots: Right
2016-17 stats: 2 goals, 13 assists in 35 games
Noteworthy: Ran one of the top power plays in college hockey at RPI (21.3 percent). ... Will turn 20 next month. ... Named top prospect in Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2015.
Sexton says: “He has good size. He skates well and he moves the puck, and he can really shoot the puck.”
Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jbombulie@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @BombulieTrib.
