I think it is a combination of the comments after the draft, the prospects camp and comments after the camp and the dire need for talented wingers.
However, in the past 8 years, out 120 1st round draft picks that were selected outside the top ten, only 4 players played more than 10 games in the year immediately following their draft. An additional 4 players played 5 games or less. Tikhonov, Perron and Matteau were selected outside the top 20.
Player | Team | Age | Height | Weight | Games Played
Perron | STL | 19 | 6'0" | 200 | 62
Tikhonov | PHX | 20 | 6'2" | 190 | 61
Grigorenko | BUF | 18 | 6'3" | 200 | 25
Matteau | NJD | 18 | 6'1" | 215 | 17
Forsberg | NSH | 18 | 6'1" | 188 | 5
Laughton | PHI | 18 | 6'0" | 177 | 5
Baertschi | CGY | 19 | 5'10" | 181 | 3
Z Boychuk | CAR | 19 | 5'10" | 185| 2
Kapanen is 18, 5'10" and 180 lbs and
resembles a twig. Players of his caliber, age and size don't seem to make the NHL in the first year, and I hope that the Pens are smart enough to give him time to develop.