With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
Since the Penguins have a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.
After the results of the draft lottery on May 5, the Penguins will officially select 11th overall, dropping down two spots from where they originally were at ninth. As such, we have compiled a list of potential draft prospects that should fall around the Penguins' selection.
We recently profiled defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, right wing Justin Carbonneau, defenseman Logan Hensler, and defenseman Radim Mrtka. Next up? Defenseman Jackson Smith.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Radim Mrtka
With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> have their work cut out for them.
Jackson Smith
DOB: May 13, 2007 (Age 18)
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 195 pounds
Team: Tri-City Americans (WHL)
One player who has seen his draft stock rise over the past year is left-shot defenseman Jackson Smith.
Smith had a breakout year for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL), registering 11 goals and 54 points in 68 games last season - as well as a goal and three points in five playoff games. And after being a minus-29 in 2023-24, he was a much-improved plus-2 in 2024-25.
But where he really stood out was for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship this season. Despite the disappointing result in the tournament for Canada, Smith put up four goals and five points and a plus-7 in seven games, turning a lot of heads.
2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Jackson Smith
The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is defenceman Jackson Smith, who plays for the Tri-City Americans.
Although nothing is confirmed, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, Smith plans to commit to Penn State University for the 2025-26 season. The two-way defenseman will be one of the top blueliners in the 2025 draft, and by most projections, he should be selected right in the range of where the Penguins are picking at 11th.
And if he is available, his high-upside potential is certainly something for Dubas and co. to consider.
A rare all-tool talent on the blueline, Smith may just be the most high-upside defenseman in this draft class aside from consensus first overall pick Matthew Schaefer. He has it all: mobility, IQ, skills in transition, physicality, size, speed, puck skills, and passing ability.
He is most-known for his skills in transition and his ability to exit the defensive zone, which all trace back to his hockey smarts. He still turns the puck over at a relatively high clip - which is a slight area of concern - but, in the grand scheme of things, it's his only major discernible weakness.
Most project him as a top-four defenseman, but some project even higher. If Smith can reach his peak potential, he can be an impact top-pair defenseman in the NHL.
Because of his high-upside, there is still a pretty good chance that he will be selected just before the Penguins, or even as high as top-eight. But if he is still available, the Penguins would be getting a good one in Smith - as well as what projects to be a large part of their future.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Justin Carbonneau
With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> have their work cut out for them.
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