Penguins Draft Profiles: Spencer Gill
The Pittsburgh Penguins can add a defenseman with high upside in Spencer Gill.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to add two high-end prospects to their system at the 2024 NHL Draft. One positional need they could address is defensemen, specifically right-handed defenders. Someone who could satisfy that need is Spencer Gill out of the QMJHL.
Essentials
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6’3
Weight: 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
2023-24 Team: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
THN Draft Ranking: 43rd
Player Breakdown
Gill is a player showing significant improvement, and may have one of the highest upsides of all draft-eligible defenders. He went from four points to 46 points in his second season in the QMJHL, ranking 10th among defensemen.
When watching Gill, the part of his game that jumps out at you is his passing. He is an accurate passer in all zones of the ice, but his ability to make a stretch pass is especially appealing.
He also puts his large frame into his shot, and will frequently let it fly from the point. One of the big improvements he made this season was being more involved in the offense, using his shot and IQ to create more opportunities for himself.
What Needs to Improve
Currently listed at 6'3, Gill needs to learn how to better utilize his frame in the defensive end. Adding on some extra muscle will go a long way, but he needs to be more aggressive in 1-on-1 situations and managing his gap control. The strides he's made this season alone are indicative that he can improve further, but it's still a deficiency in his game.
NHL Player Comparison: Brett Pesce
NHL ETA: 2027-2028
Whoever selects Spencer Gill will need patience. He's not making the leap from juniors to the NHL next season, or even the one after that, but he should be worth the wait. As he rounds out his game and becomes a more complete defender, his projection will rise to a top-four defender.
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