Prospect Info: Owen Pickering, 21st Overall, 2022 NHL Draft

[Honour Over Glory]

Poor kid is going to learn nothing from Letang.

This shit is f***ing comical af to watch now...

 

[CallArnoldSlick]

(Ignoring the likelihood that Pickering will become trade fodder to support some final efforts in the Crosby era)

Pickering kind of reminds me of Brooks Orpik. Not play style wise, but timing.

Orpik was a mid 1st round pick in 2000 (18th overall) and was about 26 when the Pens had their flashy young core forwards (87/71/11) first play together in 06-07. He had a couple years of experience at that time, but was still developing himself to that point. His prime came in the next couple years when the trio led the team to back-to-back Final appearances.

Pickering realistically will take a few years to develop, meaning he could become a regular in the lineup at the end of the Crosby (and Malkin) era around age 23. Depending on how long he'd have to suffer through the rebuilding years, he could be in his prime 26-29 years when a new core is being formed. That core isn't going to be 87 and 71, but Pickering could be a real valuable piece for that future team.

Obviously if Pickering becomes a superstar, that wouldn't be the ideal career path for him. But if his ceiling is a good 2/great 3 on the blueline, I think that is a solid timeline for him and the team. He seems well spoken and could project as a good leadership type role in future years.

This is all based on a Youtube highlight video I watched 20 minutes ago and an interview he did with Colby Armstrong and Steve Dangle.

 

[Sotty]

I remember people bashing the Seider pick in Detroit

I have no idea about the potential of Pickering. But all the Red Wing fans who were criticizing the Seider pick, which was almost all of them, were total idiots. Anyone who follwed european hockey just the slightest knew Seider would be an awesome pick for any team.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Nifty quick look-off to the winger to open up the passing lane here:

 

[Fordy]

Poor kid is going to learn nothing from Letang.

This shit is f***ing comical af to watch now...

why? for real, what am i supposed to be laughing at in this?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

He models his physique after Marcus Pettersson.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

At least we seem to have finally drafted a player whose skating isn't dogshit that needs a lot of work for them to ever get to the NHL.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

why? for real, what am i supposed to be laughing at in this?

Waxing poetic about development and coaching young players.

*uses veterans instead with no accountability*

 

[Fordy]

Waxing poetic about development and coaching young players.

*uses veterans instead with no accountability*

that's just nhl coaching. he had a different role when he gave that presentation, and honestly, i don't see or hear what is different from what he preaches today. what he is preaching in that presentation, he preaches today. he's not a development coach today though

 

[Honour Over Glory]

that's just nhl coaching. he had a different role when he gave that presentation, and honestly, i don't see or hear what is different from what he preaches today. what he is preaching in that presentation, he preaches today. he's not a development coach today though

Coaches are always developing players. That's the common misconception. A head coach will give players assignments to round out their game etc. But putting players in positions to succeed is what we're missing. It was the video that made me a huge fan of his when we first had him as a wbs coach. What he's become is a far cry from what he was.

 

[Fordy]

Coaches are always developing players. That's the common misconception. A head coach will give players assignments to round out their game etc. But putting players in positions to succeed is what we're missing. It was the video that made me a huge fan of his when we first had him as a wbs coach. What he's become is a far cry from what he was.

well i guess we agree then tbh

 

[The Greatest 101]

Seems to be a long shot.

 

[deakka]

This is the one pick didn't want.
Huge, limited offensive upside. Sigh

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

I think people don't realize how insanely hard it is to "put on muscle" as a hockey player. You're doing an insane amount of cardio pretty much every day for 8 or 9 months a year. It's very, very hard to add muscle when you're blasting through that many calories a day.

It's not impossible, but the kid's gonna have to put in a shitload of work. Petts has been a string bean trying to put on muscle for 4+ years now. There's also a line you have to navigate carefully as a trainer/player where a guy wanting to add size/muscle doesn't want to lose his edge in skating and agility.

But I was told when Malkin was drafted that he'd become a 225-235lb muscled monster, not the 195lb he ended up topping out at....

 

[Peat]

Don't hate the pick. Not sure I love it today either, but don't hate it.

The thing I like is that if he fulfils his destiny, he's a 6'4" notably plus skater and there's only so many of those in the NHL. If you want one, and every team wants about six, good luck getting them. It doesn't sound like he'll ever have gamebreaking physicality or skill, but a dman with reach, skating and smarts can heavily effect the game if he's not underpowered or underskilled. And if the skating is good enough, that can be game breaking.

I also like the fact he's on a real steep incline of recent progress.

But we'll see.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

But I was told when Malkin was drafted that he'd become a 225-235lb muscled monster, not the 195lb he ended up topping out at....

Marcus Pettersson has gained 5lbs in his 10yrs of being a pro.

 

[Lust for Life]

From the EliteProspects draft guide

"You're probably looking at a long-term developmental project with Pickering, but the payoff could be pretty sweet. Everything is there for him to develop into a well-rounded, all situations top-four defenceman at the NHL level. Perhaps better if he lands in the right spot.

That makes him one of the first round's wildcards, and a candidate to go a fair bit higher than where we have him ranked (16th, my note)"

Shades of: Travis Sanheim

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

The thing about Pickering is that he does what Pettersson, POJ, and others don't - Which is hit and hit often and kill plays with hits.

Ngl, I have not seen this whatsoever.

Pickering himself talked about not having really developed a physical edge yet and how he's more focused on box outs and pinning guys on the wall in that regard at the moment, and more will come as he matures.

 

[deakka]

Wild card, yes. But also not a concensus first rounder either.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

From the EliteProspects draft guide

"You're probably looking at a long-term developmental project with Pickering, but the payoff could be pretty sweet. Everything is there for him to develop into a well-rounded, all situations top-four defenceman at the NHL level. Perhaps better if he lands in the right spot.

That makes him one of the first round's wildcards, and a candidate to go a fair bit higher than where we have him ranked (16th, my note)"

Shades of: Travis Sanheim

They note some interesting stuff on his skating in that guide:

 

[HandshakeLine]

Wait, we don't have to draft terrible skaters?

Why didn't you jags tell me?

 

[JRS91]

"The Penguins need to get bigger on defense".

Then people complain about this pick. I get that he probably won't be in the NHL for another 3-4 years and by that time who knows what the current state of the team will be, but I don't mind choosing the safe pick.

You'll have plenty of time to draft more offensive guys when you're picking in the top ten when the team is bad again, which is generally where you want to pick them. I don't really see the issue with building on defense now, especially given the Penguins don't have anyone like him in their system currently.

 

[Power Surge]

"The Penguins need to get bigger on defense".

Then people complain about this pick. I get that he probably won't be in the NHL for another 3-4 years and by that time who knows what the current state of the team will be, but I don't mind choosing the safe pick.

You'll have plenty of time to draft more offensive guys when you're picking in the top ten when the team is bad again, which is generally where you want to pick them. I don't really see the issue with building on defense now, especially given the Penguins don't have anyone like him in their system currently.

I don't think it mattered who was selected we still would have gotten "WE SHOULD HAVE TRADED THE PICK!" posts.

 

[Pens x]

I don't think it mattered who was selected we still would have gotten "WE SHOULD HAVE TRADED THE PICK!" posts.

I dunno, with Miroshnichenko and Duro taken around the same time, I suspect we will look back at this draft feeling we missed out on more talented players. I’m sure Pickering will be a fine #4 or # 5 dman.

He sure was not a sexy pick, but that’s Hextall for you. He will always choose the Toyota Gold Camry player. Hopefully, by the time he’s a regular NHL ready dman, Hextall will be long gone, a distant memory like Mike Johnston.

 

[chethejet]

Nothing wrong with taking a player that can develop into a top 4 D man. He is growing and will mature so he can add 15 pounds to 195 and 6-5 by the time he has played in WB for a couple years. Hextall bet on his upside and that is what you have to do here at pick 21. Just wish Hextall would be more aggressive in getting players moved who take up cap or just don't fit what Hextall clearly wants. More physicality and bang with size.