Pittsburgh Penguins: Top 10 prospects entering 2019

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Samuel Poulin poses for a photo onstage after being selected twenty-one overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

10. Jan Drozg

Acquired: 2017 fifth-round pick

Age: 20

Position: Left Wing

Stats: 60 games, 21 goals, 41 assists, 62 points; 6 postseason games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points (Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL); 2 games, 0 points (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL)

Jan Drozg averaged over a point per game on an otherwise mediocre Shawnigan squad. He led the team in points and assists during the regular season and postseason. Drozg also finished second in goals. Shawnigan only scored 188 goals during the regular season, so he played a part in a shade under one-third of their goals.

His defensive game is definitely a work in progress. That’s something the Penguins are hoping he improves in the AHL, where he will likely play next season. Drozg is intriguing on offense. He’s good at beating guys one on one and he has shown he can drive a line as a wing, even if it was just in juniors.

Drozg has overcome a lot to get to this point. The Slovenian forward had to adjust to a French-speaking city and did so seamlessly. Drozg has the mental makeup necessary to overcome obstacles. I usually don’t care about that stuff too much, but I think it’s relevant here. Things aren’t always going to be easy. Drozg has shown he can have success in the face of adversity.

His offense could make him a decent top-nine (third-line) forward, but he will have to improve his two-way play to do it.

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