I'd be willing to pay a 1st to be honest. He's only 22, is a breakout candidate if given an elevated role IMO, and fills the biggest hole on the current roster.
I know the common thought process around here is to not give up a 1st because we're going to be a lottery team, but I think it's more likely they are a bubble team again. A mid-1st for a 22 year old who could breakout seems pretty fair to me.
I think it’s tough to do a 1st with where we are at.
I’d probably do it if you could guarantee we pick 14th or later - but even as a huge fan of Robertson you’re starting to push it around there and moving towards the 10 OA pick. Even if they have similar careers, the ‘25 1st pick is 6 drafts younger than Robertson (he turned 23 today).
And as much as I like him (and he plays very hard), a small winger is still the least valued and easiest to find top of the lineup option there is. I’d feel different if this was a 6’2 center or a RHD.
Then if a bad season goes down you’re deferring the 1st to ‘26.. idk. I wouldn’t hate it but I don’t have the balls to make that move and I’m not sure his profile is worth risking the worst case scenario. If the Pens have a bad year you really need him to be a superstar 70 + point guy for the move to be worth it. I see him more as a long term NHLer that plays hard and flirts with 30 gs in his best years, kind of like a more skilled Zucker, but not an offensive dynamo.