The 2023-24 season has gone poorly enough that the Pittsburgh Penguins have a real chance at a top draft pick.

PITTSBURGH – Things have gone from bad to worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins and their odds of making the postseason continue to shrink. Beyond likely missing the playoffs, the Penguins are likely setting themselves up to earn back their first-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft.

When the Penguins acquired Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks, they sent their 2024 first-round pick to the Sharks, but there was a condition. The pick was sent to San Jose, but the Penguins have a top-10 protection on it.

If the Penguins were to finish with a top-10 spot in the 2024 Draft, the first-round pick heading to the Sharks would be pushed to the 2025 Draft.

After a tough overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins are well within the 10 worst teams in the NHL. Their 28-27-9 record is eight worst in the NHL, lining them up to retain their first-round pick and be in the running for the first-overall pick.

According to tankathon.com, the Penguins have a 3.5% chance of winning the Draft Lottery and securing the No. 1 overall selection. Those are still long-shot odds, but if the Penguins continue this losing streak, they’ll have their pick of the litter at some of the top prospects available.

The Penguins’ 3.5% chance from Tankathon is the site’s longest odds of teams within the top 10. In the NHL’s new lottery rules, teams can only move up as many as 10 spaces.

Players within the Penguins room have stated they are sticking to their plan of collecting as many wins as possible, but if the wheels continue to fall off, they could find themselves sitting nicely with a quality draft pick.

The top pick at the upcoming NHL Draft is expected to be Macklin Celebrini from Mike Sullivan's alma mater, Boston University. Celebrini also spent a few seasons at Shattuck St. Mary's, where Sidney Crosby played as a youngster.

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