I am not overly worried about the rankings. True, being a homer like everyone else, seeing the Pens ranked 9 made me chuckle. How many teams have two almost universally can't miss prospects, in two of the most important positions on the ice, Fleury and Malkin? Both basically the first pick of the last two drafts (Malkin would be almost any other year number one). Add enormous depth on defense and goaltending throughout the organization and I am not too worried if HF ranks the Pens lower than most would, I can see what is coming up and how little these rankings will mean in a couple of years when these players start hitting the ice.
Rankings do not play hockey, players do, and how many would trade all of your prospects for all of the Pens? Led by Fleury in goal, and Malkin centering a line with Ryan Whitney and Brooks Orpik back on Defense, not to mention many of the 'lesser luminaries' that fill the Pen's minors to overflowing, I highly doubt that there are 8 other teams out there that would decline that offer.
(edit)
*returns from having just looked at the details of those rankings*
what a joke . . . where is Fleury and Malkin? They have Fleury in the NHL, and Malkin is no where to be found. They have Sergei Anshakov ranked number 3 among our prospects elsewhere and yet from the list below he was left out entirely in considering this ranking. This was pretty sloppy.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins
Strengths: Having made many trades in which they get only prospects in return, the Penguins greatest asset in their system is depth, particularly on the blueline. Ryan Whitney, Noah Welch and Ross Lupaschuk highlight the future blueline of the Pens. Pittsburgh also has several skilled character forwards in their system like Colby Armstrong and Ben Eaves. Down the middle and along the left wing side the Penguins appear pretty set.
Weaknesses: The recent graduations of defenseman Ryan Malone and wingers Konstantin Koltsov, Ramzi Abid and Brooks Orpik have weakened the farm system and obviously having goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury and Sebastien Caron in the NHL has depleted that position as well. There are no superstars at any level and there is a lack of pure goal scorers in the Penguins talent pool.
Top Prospects: Ryan Whitney (D), Noah Welch (D), Michal Sivek (F), Matt Murley (F), Ben Eaves (C), Colby Armstrong (F), Maxime Talbot (C), Ross Lupaschuk (D)