Penguins Could Trade Back in the NHL Draft
Will the Pittsburgh Penguins trade back on the opening night of the NHL Draft?
Draft day is finally here and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in position to draft the 14th overall selection tonight during the first round. If they make the selection, it would be the highest pick by the Penguins since taking Derrick Pouliot with the eighth pick in 2012.
But will the Penguins still be on the clock when it's time for the 14th pick? There has been plenty of volatility throughout the pre-draft process as far as how the first round will play out behind a likely locked up top three picks. High-end prospects like Zach Benson and Matvei Michkov have been projected to possibly slide out of the top ten, while others like Axel Sandin-Pelikka continue to rise as the draft draws nearer.
The 14th overall pick has produced a handful of role players over the past eight years like Jake DeBrusk, Joel Farabee, and Dylan Holloway. In 2016, the Boston Bruins drafted Norris Trophy candidate Charlie McAvoy in that position.
Still, with most draft experts struggling to parcel out the middle of this draft class, the Penguins could find value in trading down a few slots to bank an extra pick or two in later rounds.
It's no secret that the Penguins are in desperate need of talent and numbers at the prospect level. While selecting at 14 may net the Penguins a very talented prospect, that will not fix their issue with organizational depth. The Penguins hold only five picks after the first round with only one pick coming between rounds two and four (New Jersey's 3rd round pick).
In his five drafts as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kyle Dubas chose to trade back in the first round twice. First in 2018, his first draft as Maple Leafs GM, when he traded the 25th pick for picks 29 and 76. He then drafted Rasmus Sandin at 29th overall. Last year, Dubas traded the 25th pick again, this time attached to goaltender Petr Mrazek, for the 38th pick in the draft.
The NHL Draft is hours away and the Penguins have plenty of options with their top pick.
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