Players the Penguins Could Target with First-Round Pick
Who could the Pittsburgh Penguins acquire with their 14th overall pick?
The Pittsburgh Penguins haven't revealed their plan for the first-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft. Many believe the Penguins are gearing up to trade the pick in pursuit of some immediate top of the lineup help. Who could the Penguins be targeting if they intend to trade their first round pick?
1. Dillon Dube, C, Calgary Flames
2022-23 Stats: 82 GP, 18 G, 27 A, 45 P
Contract: one year remaining with $2.3 million cap hit
If the Penguins want to truly go for another Stanley Cup in the upcoming season, using their 14th overall pick in a trade for Dillon Dube would be a sure fire way to improve their odds. The 24-year-old center is getting better every year and just set career-highs in every offensive category last season. He could come in and instantly upgrade the third line, with serious potential of playing on the second line with Evgeni Malkin.
Dube is entering the final year of a very cheap contract, so the Penguins could move on or find some return for Dube before the trade deadline if the team fails to make the playoffs again. If the Penguins move this pick, Dube should be at the top of the list.
2. Cody Glass, C, Nashville Predators
2022-23 Stats: 72 GP, 14 G, 21 A, 35 P
Contract: RFA
Cody Glass has struggled to reach his first round potential, but is finally starting to see results after a breakout season in Nashville. He's only 24 and is a pending restricted free agent, so there is still some work left to get Glass under contract. However, if the Penguins used their first round pick to acquire him, it would likely mean a contract extension was already worked out.
Glass is a big player, at 6'3, and is a right shot center. With the strides he's taken this season, he could improve to a 50-60 point scorer under the tutelage of Sidney Crosby and Malkin, and that's exactly what the Pens need in return for their 14th overall pick.
3. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winger, Winnipeg Jets
2022-23 Stats: 45 GP, 12 G, 26 A, 38 P
Contract: 2 years remaining, $6 million cap hit
An organization in flux makes for a perfect trade partner and the Penguins should make some calls to the Winnipeg Jets. They have a few players that could be helpful for the Penguins, but someone in particular they could use the 14th pick to acquire is winger Nikolaj Ehlers.
27-years-old and already eight seasons into his NHL career, Ehlers is a proven scorer who would benefit greatly from a change of scenery. He's been injury riddled the past two seasons, and has suffered enough already playing in Winnipeg. He has two seasons left on a contract with a $6 million cap hit, so they could reasonably fit him under the cap with some of their expiring contracts coming off the books. If interested, the Penguins could use their 14th pick as a starting point and heavy bargaining chip to acquire Ehlers from the Jets.
4. J.T. Miller, Forward, Vancouver Canucks
2022-23 Stats: 81 GP, 32 G, 50 A, 82 P
Contract: 7 years remaining, $8 million cap hit
The link between the Penguins and J.T. Miller remains this current off-season. The Canucks signed Miller to a huge extension, but are making it clear that they need to offload some of their contracts. Miller is 30-years-old, and in the prime of being an 80 to 100-point player, so it seems logical the rebuilding Canucks would want to part ways.
The Penguins desperately need another offensive stud like Miller, and the only way they could acquire a player of his caliber would be to start with the 14th overall draft pick. There would need to be a package including that pick to really entice Vancouver's management, but if the Penguins want to make a game changing deal, this would be it.
5. Nick Schmaltz, C, Arizona Coyotes
2022-23 Stats: 63 GP, 22 G, 36 A, 58 P
Contract: 3 years remaining, $5.8 million cap hit
Playing in the desert is a quick way to have people forget about your game, but Nick Schmaltz has quietly put up nearly point per game seasons two straight years in Arizona. He's a quality, two-way forward, who can give you 20 goals and 55 points guaranteed. The Penguins were consistently missing a secondary scoring option last season, and Schmaltz would instantly solve that problem.
The 14th overall pick and a quality prospect would most likely be needed to bring Schmaltz to Pittsburgh, but would go a long way to getting this team closer to a championship in 2024.
Who do you think the Penguins should pursue with the 14th overall pick? Do you think they should keep the pick and draft someone, or acquire immediate help using their best trading chip? The buildup over the next few weeks will be very interesting as the new management team navigates this difficult situation.
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