After an eventful first round of the 2014 NHL Draft for Pittsburgh, the Penguins stayed put with their four picks on the second day and continued to add to their forward depth.
At No. 113, Pittsburgh selected Sam Lafferty from Deerfield Academy. The 19-yr old right winger hails from Hollidaysburg, PA, right outside of Altoona. Lafferty posted 21G-34A-54pts in 25 GP for Deerfield last year. Lafferty will spend next year with the Tri-City Americans of the USHL and is committed to Brown University for the 2015-16 season.
To see a nice goal last season from Lafferty, fast forward to 2:19 of the video.
In the fifth round, the Penguins picked center Anthony Angello from the Omaha Lancers of the USHL at No. 145. In 58 games played last year, he registered 21 points (10g-11a). Currently committed to Cornell in 2015-16. The 18-year old is originally from Manlius, NY, 20 mins outside of Syracuse and is a big forward at 6-4, 190 lbs.
With the 173rd pick (6th round), the Pittsburgh Penguins then picked Owen Sound Attack (OHL) right wing Jaden Lindo. Lindo has spent the last two years with Owen Sound, totaling 14G-26A-40pts in 103 GP. Last season, he recorded nine goals and nine assists over 40 games. The 18-year old native of Brampton, ON stands at 6-1, 202 lbs and is a right handed shot.
From Hockey's Future on Lindo...
"2013-14: Lindo was limited to 40 games with the Attack in his second OHL season due to a series of injuries in the second half— suffering a season-ending lower body injury in February. He scored 9 goals with 9 assists and was -9 with 41 penalty minutes. Owen Sound reached the playoffs; finishing fourth in the Midwest Division. Lindo was ranked 96th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's mid-term rankings prior to the 2014 NHL Draft."
Lindo becomes first Owen Sound player ever drafted by Pens. The last time the Penguins used first their first four picks on forwards was in 1988 with Darrin Shannon, Mark Major, Danile Gauthier and Mark Recchi.
The pick before, Kingston, PA-native CJ Yakimowicz was selected by the St. Louis Blues. It was a heck of a year for Yakimowicz, who began the season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights before making the jump midway through the year to the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. I had a chance to talk to Bill Armstrong, Blues' Director of Amateur Scouting, and get his thoughts on the first player ever to be drafted out of Luzerne County.
Check this out on Chirbit
Pittsburgh went defense with their final pick, selecting Union College blueliner Jeff Taylor. During his freshman season for the NCAA Champions, Talyor netted three goals, 13 assists and 18 penalty minutes in 41 contests. The left-handed defenseman is originally from Clifton Park, NY and, prior to joining Union, played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) during the 2012-13 season.
General Manager Jim Rutherford spoke to the media after Day 2 of the Draft. The mystery as to whether he was the first GM to draft both a father and son (Sami and Kasperi Kapanen) carries on. Also, much like Olli Maatta at No. 22 in 2012, the Penguins were surprised that Kasperi was still around at the same pick this year.
Co-Director of Amateur Scouting Randy Sexton gave his assessment of the Penguins selections over the course of the weekend.
Another draft is in the books and another group of young men join the Penguins organization, hopeful that they will some day fulfill their NHL dreams and don the Pittsburgh black and gold.
There will be little time to rest for Rutherford and the rest of the Penguins with the first day of free agency coming on Tuesday. Soon thereafter, the Penguins prospects will gather in Pittsburgh in the middle of July for Development Camp.
Thanks for following along this weekend and make sure you follow me and the W-B/Scranton Penguins for updates throughout the off-season.
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