As things wrapped up on the draft board Saturday afternoon, Pittsburgh Penguins director of scouting Jay Heinbuck stepped toward the fence dividing members of the press and team to discuss the latest additions in the 2009 NHL Draft.  Take the jump to read or listen to the audio below.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguin Ulf Samuelsson was down on the concourse of the Bell Centre in Montreal fielding questions from the press about his son Philip being selected 61st overall by the Pens.  Like any proud father he was beaming with excitement, but like any former hockey player he spoke with an expert angle for Pitt's newest draftee.  Audio below, or read the Q&A after the jump.  Keep checking back for the final installment of interviews with players and coaches, today at 1:30.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins picked Ban Hanowski with their second third round pick, 63rd overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft.  Here's a transcript of the Q&A session after the jump (or you can listen with this link).  Keep checking back throughout the day as I add Q&A sessions with other draft picks and members of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Check back around 11:30/45ish for another installment.

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After the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Philip Samuelsson 61st overall in the 2009 NHl Draft, he stepped down from the stage and fielded a few questions from various members of the press.  Here's the transcript of the Q&A session after the jump (or you can listen with this link).  Keep checking back throughout the day as I add Q&A sessions with other draft picks and members of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

I jumped in a few seconds late, but the first question asked him about whether or not he was familiar with Pittsburgh.  Read on after the jump.

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What an exciting run it was to be part of this year's NHL Draft up in Montreal.  Having spent years watching from the confines of a raggedy couch in my mother's basement, wearing my favorite pair of underwear and washing down mounds of Doritos with a can of Mountain Dew, it was a real privilege to find myself on press row with the likes of so many media professionals.  But if you ever thought the wall between blogger and mainstream media has since faced the same fate as the Berlin Wall, you'd be mistaken.  Some of my constituents hardly made an effort to BS while waiting for draft picks, while others were as friendly as they come.  Yet in light of all those stereotypes that bloggers can't be trusted and we are the root of all rumors (see also: Eklund) I will refrain from naming names of those who utterly hate what SBN is trying to do.  Not to mention a meeting I accidentally slipped into discussing the exact same thing - bloggers.

The first round was a long, drawn out debacle obviously structured for TV.  It took almost four hours to get through 30 picks.  Yet when rounds two through seven kicked off Saturday morning, 181 picks went by in the same span of time.  It's amazing what you can do when cameras and TV breaks aren't around.

I have some great audio on the way with prospects Philip Samuelsson and Ben Hanowski.  Also have a quick interview from former Pen Ulf Samuelsson and director of scouting Jay Heinbuck.  All of that to come by tomorrow morning.

First, I have a nice long car ride ahead of me. 

Au revoir Montreal.

PENSBURGH DRAFT COVERAGE

• Simon Despres (30th overall) with audio
• Philip Samuelsson (61st overall)
• Ben Hanowski (63rd overall)
• Andy Bathgate (151 overall)
• Other picks: Nick Petersen (121), Alex Velischek (123), Viktor Ekbom (181)

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Here's a little breakdown of what position had the most action in this year's NHL Draft:

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With the 151st pick in the 2009 NHL Draft the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Andy Bathgate, grandson to former Penguin and long-time Ranger Andy Bathgate.  The Brampton, Ontario native didn't up impressive numbers in last year's run with Belleville but that's due more to a shoulder injury that took him off the ice for most of the season.  He has since been patched up and is back to 100%.

Jay Heinbuck, director of scouting for the Penguins, said he's not concerned about what's on the paper.  

"Coach and GM George Burnett in Belleville has to say that this kid has an upside to him and the next couple of years are going to be really good seasons for him."

Jay Heinbuck

The Pens already have strong ties with Belleville, Eric Tangradi's alma mater.  In fact the Pens had Tangradi on their radar in the past but missed out on him by just a few draft slots.  No matter.  He's in the system now and according Heinbuck "doing fine" after severing a tendon in his hand this past season.

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With the 63rd overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins select Little Falls, Minnesota native Ben Hanowski.  Ben put up a monster season at Little Falls high school last season.  Over 25 games he tallied 57 goals and 53 helpers for a 110-point total, the highest ever in the school's history.  Hanowski will go up against the stigma that he was merely the big fish in a small pond who still has a lot to prove on the next level of competition.  From his post-draft presser alone the kid couldn't have been more excited.  He even noted that he has an Evgeni Malkin jersey at home and now has a great chance to one day play with him. 

Hanowski is a right winger who now finds himself drafted by a team known for its scoring forwards and fast-paced style. He'll have plenty of time to work on his game at Minnesota's St. Cloud State where he hopes to work on his speed and overall strength.  In his own words, "You can never be too fast or too strong."

Hanow understands the depth of the Pittsburgh team but thinks it may help him push a little bit harder to crack the lineup. 

In all honesty he just struck me as a kid livin the dream, completely stoked to be a member of the Stanley Cup Champions.

Western College Hockey has more on Ben.

Check up on some of the other reports from today:

30th Simon Despres (Audio available)
61st Philip Samuelsson