With the 14th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins select…

[Andy99]

Aho, Kucherov, Slavin, Benn, Fox, Etc.


There is so much talent out there that just needs to be found. Really really sucks not
having a high 2nd round pick in this draft. Now we have to give away another pick to get rid of that mistake.

Have you seen anything about our talent evaluation over the last 5-6 years that leads you to believe we will find the gems hiding in this draft lol…?

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

With the way this team is run, no matter who they pick, I'm confident they will turn into next Jason Bonsignore.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

I feel like there's more than a few showing up in the NHL in two years or less from the 10-30 slot. Do I trust us to draft the right guy? lol no.

Your feelings are wrong.

And if it was so easy to draft the right guy then Robertson doesn't make it to the 2nd round and Pastrnak doesn't go til like 25th. I don't trust any team to make the right pick.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The bar is so low at this point that I'd be happy with literally any NHL player that can contribute to any line. Even not having to pay the next Brock flippin' McGinn nearly 3M to suck would be nice.

 

[Dominance]

If you’re yet to be excited about this pick, here’s the thing - basically every scout generally agrees that after the following tiers

Bedard

Fantilli
Carlson
Michkov

Benson
Reinbacher
Smith

there is a big grouping of a 8-10 guys who are so close to one another it’s impossible to predict the order in which they will be picked.

So, from the perspective of one who would rather be excited about something than bemoan everything, you can really look at the 14th overall pick as equivalent to the 8th.

 

[Andy99]

If you’re yet to be excited about this pick, here’s the thing - basically every scout generally agrees that after the following tiers

Bedard

Fantilli
Carlson
Michkov

Benson
Reinbacher
Smith

there is a big grouping of a 8-10 guys who are so close to one another it’s impossible to predict the order in which they will be picked.

So, from the perspective of one who would rather be excited about something than bemoan everything, you can really look at the 14th overall pick as equivalent to the 8th.

there are some guys who could be picked around #14 who could be good…do you trust the Pens to find and select those guys? I mean the new GM might be great but well likely be relying on the old scouting department…I don’t have a lot of trust there lol

 

[AuroraBorealis]

there are some guys who could be picked around #14 who could be good…do you trust the Pens to find and select those guys? I mean the new GM might be great but well likely be relying on the old scouting department…I don’t have a lot of trust there lol

I liked the Pickering pick at least.
I'm not too worried about this pick. He's not saving anyone no matter how good he is in 5 years.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I liked the Pickering pick at least.
I'm not too worried about this pick. He's not saving anyone no matter how good he is in 5 years.

Yeah Pickering is by far this team's most intriguing pick in a while. But who knows how much of that is shiny new toy syndrome, I guess. I'm not as completely unconvinced as Andy but I definitely have flagging faith in this team's scouting. And then development is a whole OTHER thing... which is why I'm not completely tossing the whole ass scouting staff under the bus.

I think it's funny that Rossi claimed a couple of days ago that Sullivan would have LOVED to play more young guys. If it just weren't for those pesky cap restrictions (conveniently once again all Hextall's fault). I don't have a huge amount of faith in what the team has to work with on the farm currently and the cap was a little tricky this season but I'm still smashing X for doubt on that byline.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

If you’re yet to be excited about this pick, here’s the thing - basically every scout generally agrees that after the following tiers

Bedard

Fantilli
Carlson
Michkov

Benson
Reinbacher
Smith

there is a big grouping of a 8-10 guys who are so close to one another it’s impossible to predict the order in which they will be picked.

So, from the perspective of one who would rather be excited about something than bemoan everything, you can really look at the 14th overall pick as equivalent to the 8th.

This is a great and deep draft, we could have used the 2nd rounder as well. I don't know what they will end up doing with the pick, but if they keep it we could have a solid player down the road. let's see what the new GM has in mind

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Yeah Pickering is by far this team's most intriguing pick in a while. But who knows how much of that is shiny new toy syndrome, I guess. I'm not as completely unconvinced as Andy but I definitely have flagging faith in this team's scouting. And then development is a whole OTHER thing... which is why I'm not completely tossing the whole ass scouting staff under the bus.

Well with Pickering at least we know he has the body to be effective at the NHL level. Plus mentally I'm very impressed with him in interviews. Screams leadership and maturity to me.
It's a good starting point. High percentage choice.

I think it's funny that Rossi claimed a couple of days ago that Sullivan would have LOVED to play more young guys. If it just weren't for those pesky cap restrictions (conveniently once again all Hextall's fault). I don't have a huge amount of faith in what the team has to work with on the farm currently and the cap was a little tricky this season but I'm still smashing X for doubt on that byline.

That's ridiculous from Rossi. Another GM would have called up Puustinen, Nylander or Hallander ages ago. They would have made trades to fit in youth long before the deadline. And bottom 6'er midseason trades like that are often spearheaded by the coach, asking his GM for help.
Sullivan simply didn't want to change anything. He kept trying to fix what he has to accommodate his veterans, instead of looking outside for solutions.

We know for a fact that vets have significantly longer leashes here than young players.

My hope is that the shock of missing the playoffs will force Sullivan to reconsider his approach on some things, starting in training camp.
A humbling experience, to be sure. You can no longer take early season games lightly the next year when you missed by a point or two.
Could lead to more accountability. Not to mention the new GM may not be so enamored by Sully as Hex was. His job may be on the line.

In FSG's interview they made it pretty clear that the new GM will have proper autonomy to work.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

My hope is that the shock of missing the playoffs will force Sullivan to reconsider his approach on some things, starting in training camp.
A humbling experience, to be sure. You can no longer take early season games lightly the next year when you missed by a point or two.
Could lead to more accountability. Not to mention the new GM may not be so enamored by Sully as Hex was. His job may be on the line.

In FSG's interview they made it pretty clear that the new GM will have proper autonomy to work.

Hmmm. Well he isn't going anywhere for a while so yes that should be the hope.

But based on his utterly-divorced-from-reality exist interviews I ain't holdin' my breath.

Re: the new GM... we'll see. People can have a giggle all they want at my expense but I maintain that Sullivan has far too much pull in this franchise at all levels. And we can parse what EXACTLY his responsibilities are in the coming months (I don't believe he's actually hiring the GM... that's just silly) but the fact is that he is still there and still "assisting" and that's already stupid enough. Dude was part of the problem this year... not the solution.

 

[Ryder71]

I even heard he models his game after cindy crysby

I don't think he would wine as much as Sid truthfully

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Hmmm. Well he isn't going anywhere for a while so yes that should be the hope.

But based on his utterly-divorced-from-reality exist interviews I ain't holdin' my breath.

Re: the new GM... we'll see. People can have a giggle all they want at my expense but I maintain that Sullivan has far too much pull in this franchise at all levels. And we can parse what EXACTLY his responsibilities are in the coming months but the fact is that he is still there and still "assisting" and that's already stupid enough. Dude was part of the problem this year... not the solution.

Sullivan explained his role during the transition period. He will have no say at all in picking his boss. That was just a misunderstood Tweet by fans.

Haase touched on this:


That being said, he's clearly very smooth behind the scenes with his superiors, so he may secure himself with the new GM as well. He's pretty good with people.
But let's say the Pens are in trash standing in December...I'm not sure the new GM will stand idly by in his first year like that...especially if it's a rookie GM wanting to build a reputation. He'd have a lot of motivation to fire Sully.

This is why I absolutely don't want Botterill. He is part of the old boys club. I'd fear him bringing Dumoulin back and not holding Sully accountable at all.

 

[Jacob]

Yager has 5+5 in 6 PO games.

Looking forward to watching the U18s, most of the names we’re mentioning will be there.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Sullivan explained his role during the transition period. He will have no say at all in picking his boss. That was just a misunderstood Tweet by fans.

Haase touched on this:


That being said, he's clearly very smooth behind the scenes with his superiors, so he may secure himself with the new GM as well. He's pretty good with people.
But let's say the Pens are in trash standing in December...I'm not sure the new GM will stand idly by in his first year like that...especially if it's a rookie GM wanting to build a reputation. He'd have a lot of motivation to fire Sully.

This is why I absolutely don't want Botterill. He is part of the old boys club. I'd fear him bringing Dumoulin back and not holding Sully accountable at all.

Sorry yeah I ninja-edited above. I don't want to make it sound like I think Sullivan is heading up the GM search or even having more than cursory input on it. That's just silly. I just don't know why he's assisting with anything at all. Go home, doof. You had a terrible year regardless of how you want to spin it. Have the equipment managers do the exit interviews or whatever.

I totally agree with your second point. Sullivan is a smooth operator and knows how to ingratiate himself from what I can tell. This roster and overall team identity is absolutely not JR/Hextall's alone. I 100% guarantee you that.

Also Botts would be a disaster. I didn't realize that was even on any radar. Hasn't he done nothing but fall flat on his face since he left Pittsburgh, anyway?

 

[Gurglesons]

Sorry yeah I ninja-edited above. I don't want to make it sound like I think Sullivan is heading up the GM search or even having more than cursory input on it. That's just silly. I just don't know why he's assisting with anything at all. Go home, doof. You had a terrible year regardless of how you want to spin it. Have the equipment managers do the exit interviews or whatever.

I totally agree with your second point. Sullivan is a smooth operator and knows how to ingratiate himself from what I can tell. This roster and overall team identity is absolutely not JR/Hextall's alone. I 100% guarantee you that.

Also Botts would be a disaster. I didn't realize that was even on any radar. Hasn't he done nothing but fall flat on his face since he left Pittsburgh, anyway?

Botts pieced together most of what is currently driving the Buffalo Sabres to success and is an AGM with the Kraken.

People were mad in BUF because the ROR trade was a disaster and his drafting + the Skinner contract which are all good moves now.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Botts pieced together most of what is currently driving the Buffalo Sabres to success and is an AGM with the Kraken.

People were mad in BUF because the ROR trade was a disaster and his drafting + the Skinner contract which are all good moves now.

Huh. Fair enough.

Still agree with Aurora, though. I've had my fill at least for now of old familiar faces.

Having to put up with Toddddddddddddd is bad enough.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Also Botts would be a disaster. I didn't realize that was even on any radar. Hasn't he done nothing but fall flat on his face since he left Pittsburgh, anyway?

His defense for failure in Buffalo is that they're reaping the rewards with the assets he acquired, that are maturing now.
He drafted Cozens and Samuelsson. He brought Thompson, and signed Ullmark.
Plus there was a lot of talk about being handcuffed by ownership with the internal cap.

All that being said, I still think he did a pretty shitty job on the whole and there's no reason to think he's a better GM than a guy like Dubas.

 

[Gurglesons]

Huh. Fair enough.

Still agree with Aurora, though. I've had my fill at least for now of old familiar faces.

Having to put up with Toddddddddddddd is bad enough.

I think part of the issue is we brought back familiar faces who didn’t contribute to winning.

 

[Andy99]

Well with Pickering at least we know he has the body to be effective at the NHL level. Plus mentally I'm very impressed with him in interviews. Screams leadership and maturity to me.
It's a good starting point. High percentage choice.


That's ridiculous from Rossi. Another GM would have called up Puustinen, Nylander or Hallander ages ago. They would have made trades to fit in youth long before the deadline. And bottom 6'er midseason trades like that are often spearheaded by the coach, asking his GM for help.
Sullivan simply didn't want to change anything. He kept trying to fix what he has to accommodate his veterans, instead of looking outside for solutions.

We know for a fact that vets have significantly longer leashes here than young players.

My hope is that the shock of missing the playoffs will force Sullivan to reconsider his approach on some things, starting in training camp.
A humbling experience, to be sure. You can no longer take early season games lightly the next year when you missed by a point or two.
Could lead to more accountability. Not to mention the new GM may not be so enamored by Sully as Hex was. His job may be on the line.

In FSG's interview they made it pretty clear that the new GM will have proper autonomy to work.

If you heard Sullivan double Down on his defense of the PP, you would have no such delusions lol

 

[AuroraBorealis]

If you heard Sullivan double Down on his defense of the PP, you would have no such delusions lol

We'll see. There's a long time until October for reflection and analysis.
What he says now may be different than how he approaches things 6 months later after this miserable ending.

Considering that there'll be a new GM, I don't think he's gonna feel all that safe anymore.

 

[The Old Master]

We have core players right now…they’re old…we’re not realistically going to replace them until we suck bad enough to get some top five picks in the draft…I’d rather trade it depending on who’s available…obvious you don’t want to trade for someone who’s not all that great lol

always aim high , if you shoot for a 10 and miss you could end up with a 7-8, shoot at a 5 and if you miss you could end up with a 3-1. i can make a 7-8 work. but if we end up with a 3-1, i can't make that work.

 

[The Old Master]

If you’re yet to be excited about this pick, here’s the thing - basically every scout generally agrees that after the following tiers

Bedard

Fantilli
Carlson
Michkov

Benson
Reinbacher
Smith

there is a big grouping of a 8-10 guys who are so close to one another it’s impossible to predict the order in which they will be picked.

not sure where you are getting your info. from. as far as I can tell there isn't lots of agreement on how this draft falls out. "my nhl draft" which is basically a consensus draft has yager at 14 to me that's nuts but someone a lot smarter than me had to rate there or lower for him there.

 

[Dominance]

not sure where you are getting your info. from. as far as I can tell there isn't lots of agreement on how this draft falls out. "my nhl draft" which is basically a consensus draft has yager at 14 to me that's nuts but someone a lot smarter than me had to rate there or lower for him there.

I don’t understand. What you’re saying is reinforcing what I’m saying. Yager is in that tier of 8-10 guys that will go anywhere from 7/8 to 17/18. We might as well be selecting 8th, we’ll just have less options to choose from.

 

[PensandCaps]

Your feelings are wrong.

And if it was so easy to draft the right guy then Robertson doesn't make it to the 2nd round and Pastrnak doesn't go til like 25th. I don't trust any team to make the right pick.

Well exactly. You can find a Pastrnak after 10. Tons of impact players are picked there and contribute pretty quickly.

I liked the Pickering pick at least.
I'm not too worried about this pick. He's not saving anyone no matter how good he is in 5 years.

I'm worried a bit about him. Seeing his awkward skating in the AHL has me a bit concerned.

Rest of his game seems pretty well rounded though.