They've won the prize, and have a fairly youthful core in place that should be around for the next few years. The Penguins have a lot to be proud of, as does General Manager, Ray Shero. The likes of Beau Bennett, Eric Tangradi and Simon Despres highlight a small pool of prospects for Pittsburgh, though they obviously have some bluechippers to work with. The biggest need for Shero going forward is pure depth, and refilling the cupboard to create a sense of competition.
"With the twenty-third pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Pittsburgh is proud to select from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League - Ty Rattie."
Both a teammate and linemate of the previously taken, Sven Bartschi, Rattie is the other winger on Portland's second line, adding much needed secondary scoring. A playmaking winger with strong offensive upside, Rattie was on a tear int he first half of the WHL season before trailing off; at one point in the top three for league scoring. He finished his campaign with 28 goals and 51 assists.
Though not the fastest skater, Rattie has a firm stride that keeps him planted strongly. He's strong on his skates and can change directions with relative ease. His elusive skating and strong balance help him move well int he offensive zone around defenders.
At 6'0, 170 lbs, he's not exactly large, but he should have a playing weight closer to 185-190 on his slight frame. He has soft hands and a strong pass, where he excels with strong vision in a playmaking role. He's extremely creative offensively and has that keen ability to make the opposition look a tad silly.
Rattie brings an edge to his game, though he'll ever be considered much of a gritty power forward. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and will scuffle things up when the time arises. The Alberta native improved immensely this season and became a real team player, which coaches, scouts and GMs-alike will love about him.
Portland was just eliminated in the WHL Finals, but Rattie was able to keep up with a good performance, scoring nine goals and 13 assists in 21 games. He's a high end talent that will require a bit of time and patience, but for a club with a core in place, and large forwards ready to step into checking roles for Pittsburgh soon, this pick adds some more skill to a team generally void of it on the wings.
Wherever Rattie ends up, it'll be hard not to like his play when he dances around a defenseman and ends up on that night's highlight reel.
Taken Previously...
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Gabriel Landeskog
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Adam Larsson
6. Sean Couturier
7. Ryan Strome
8. Ryan Murphy
9. Duncan Siemens
10. Mark McNeill
11. Nathan Beaulieu
12. Jamie Oleksiak
13. Mika Zibanejad
14. Joel Armia
15. Mark Scheifele
16. Matt Puempel
17. Brandon Saad
18. Sven Bartschi
19. Joe Morrow
20. Zack Phillips
21. Tyler Biggs
22. Niklas Jensen
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow me on Twitter: @BrianHuddle.
Like Me on Facebook: Brian Huddle.
Email: [email protected] 
Join the Discussion:
»