Penguins Draft Profiles: Gracyn Sawchyn
An underrated prospect might be on the radar of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With such a talented 2023 draft class, organizations are bound to make unexpected and off the wall decisions. There is no consensus order after the first 10 to 15 players, leaving room for a number of surprise picks at the draft. The Pittsburgh Penguins may decide to go off script, and select a prospect other teams are unaware of. If they go this route, they could be interested in a player like Gracyn Sawchyn.
Essentials:
2022-23 Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Height and Weight: 5-foot-11, 165 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Elite Prospects: 13th
2022-23 Stats: 58 GP, 18 G, 40 A, 58 P
Player Breakdown:
Sawchyn’s projections have been one of the most sporadic of this year’s class. NHL Central Scouting projects him as a late first round/early second round talent, but Elite Prospects clearly disagrees and views him as a top 15 talent. The truth may lie somewhere in between for Sawchyn, who is a very talented but raw player. Despite that, Sawchyn projects to be a scoring third or second line center with the potential for even more.
His shot is solid, but the production hasn’t translated yet. Still, he was a point per game player on a very deep Seattle team. He put up an additional 13 points in 17 playoff games as the Thunderbirds nearly won the Memorial Cup.
He is a solid skater and uses that to his advantage all over the ice. Sawchyn is hardly out of position, and engages in every part of the game. On defense he has sound positioning and he stands out when defending the transition. On offense he is always moving to become an open pass option or create traffic.
There is much to like about Sawchyn’s game, but his best asset is his playmaking abilities. When the puck is on his stick in space, great things happen. He has puck skills to match anyone in this year’s draft class, standing out amongst several other former first round picks on his junior team. He is always getting himself or the puck into a scoring position, and has a pass first mentality that consistently benefits his teammates.
What Needs to Improve:
With such a stacked team playing in front of him, the challenge for Sawchyn will be if he can elevate his game to the next level this upcoming season. He will move up to the number one center for Seattle, see more ice time, and be called upon for more offensive production. He has the skill and determination to do it, but it remains unclear if he will execute.
This is especially the case in the goal scoring department. His shot is better than his 18 goals indicate, but he needs to prove that on the ice. If he can find a way to be more assertive offensively and increase his goal output, Sawchyn could become the hidden gem of the 2023 draft class.
The other issue, as is incredibly common amongst draft picks, is whether he will stick at center at the next level. Due to some concerns about his skating and offensive upside, some think he will end up on the wing if he makes the NHL.
NHL Player Comparison: Vincent Trocheck
NHL ETA: 2025-26
I’m one of the people who thinks Sawchyn is extremely underrated, rather than being a byproduct of a good team. The jury remains out on the truth of the matter, however. With another couple seasons to further develop and fill out his frame, he could be a valuable NHL player.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins