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

[PensandCaps]

Since Granlund’s first full season in Nashville 8 guys have reached 50+ points, and 3 of them were Josi. So it’s been done 5 times by like 4 different forwards. They don’t score much as a team under Hynes.

Granlund has 1 more 50+ point season than Rakell in careers of equal length.

Not defending the trade or Granlund as I didn’t like the trade and don’t even much care for him as a player but he was a high 1st round pick, previously traded for Fiala, makes $5m per for a reason. He can be a productive hockey player. Some are talking about him like he’s Cal O’Reilly.

Rakell scored goals though. Two time 30 goal scorer. Granlund is just terrible at everything. He's not that guy he was in Minnesota, even then he needed the powerplay.

He's a slick passer, but i feel like the last thing we needed was a soft pass first winger.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

If you can get out of Granlund regardless you do it. If you actually get something back all the better.

Dumbest trade I've seen in a long-ass time.

It reminds me of the Forsberg for Erat trade from the Caps. Basically a hail mary by the GM to try to save their job.

 

[Jobeycool]

The problem clearly isn’t will there be a quality top 6 (game breaker) at 14 it’s just will the Penguins be taking him…

If the Penguins get Reinbacher I think that pushes us forward a year in the prospect department: not exactly a need considering our best three prospects are Defense but he is definitely BPA. Teams in the top 5 wouldn’t have a problem taking him after second look.

We should either take Reinbacher or Axel Sandin... doubt either will be available... people are underestimating that good skating number 1 draft pick defensemen are hard to find.. or a different defensemen..

 

[Ryder71]

Unless there's a decisive Gap in talent I prefer we go for forward and a Center in particular. So the best center available at that position again unless there's a huge drop off between that particular Center and a Winger or defenseman, that's the route I wish we would pursue.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

A good GM (hopefully) isn’t gonna all out commit to either keeping or trading the pick. Imo that’s how you get bad deals because you’ve eliminated the ability to walk away from the table right away.

Time will tell if this draft is 2015 or 2003 but I think we’re in a range to pick from a handful of really good prospects. Maybe that means you can get a guy like Debrincat for the pick, maybe it means you just select a really good player.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

U18 gets going today

Good players to keep an eye on

D Axel Sandin Pellikkaa (3 pts vs Canada already)
D Tom Willander
F Otto Stenberg

F Oliver Moore (favorite NTDP guy)
F Ryan Leonard
F Gabe Perreault

F Eduard Sale

F Dalibor Dvorsky

F Calum Ritchie
F Colby Barlow
F Matthew Wood
D Lukas Dragicevic
F Andrew Cristall
F Nick Lardis

F Kasper Haltunnen

 

[orby]

Unless there's a decisive Gap in talent I prefer we go for forward and a Center in particular. So the best center available at that position again unless there's a huge drop off between that particular Center and a Winger or defenseman, that's the route I wish we would pursue.

I agree. The Pens have a very shallow prospect pool in general but they are particularly bare at center. Crosby, Malkin, and Carter are all in their mid to late 30s now, and the next NHL capable guy behind them is...who? Poehling? Those are pretty dire straits.

 

[The Old Master]

Time will tell if this draft is 2015 or 2003 but I think we’re in a range to pick from a handful of really good prospects. Maybe that means you can get a guy like Debrincat for the pick, maybe it means you just select a really good player.

there will be a few players with a very high upside that will be there when we draft. now will they reach that or will we pick them that's the big question.

I agree. The Pens have a very shallow prospect pool in general but they are particularly bare at center. Crosby, Malkin, and Carter are all in their mid to late 30s now, and the next NHL capable guy behind them is...who? Poehling? Those are pretty dire straits.

and there seems to be a nice bunch so a few should be there to pick from.
edit; i've seen as many as 16 players that have played some center going in the first round?????

 

[McGroarty2]

I agree. The Pens have a very shallow prospect pool in general but they are particularly bare at center. Crosby, Malkin, and Carter are all in their mid to late 30s now, and the next NHL capable guy behind them is...who? Poehling? Those are pretty dire straits.

This is why Miller made sense, he could slide into #2 Center spot for injuries and to move Malkin to wing.

 

[Wattsburgh]

Can anyone see any of our prospects playing or have we given up on that until Sullivan leaves? For example, if this was Carolina I’d be inserting number 14 overall into line 2 now.

 

[Pancakes]

Taylor Haase keeps saying Hallander is expected to sign in Sweden this off season.

I don't really get that decision on his part. He's one of our best prospects and a new GM might be inclined to actually give him a shot at the lineup soon. Yeah yeah Sully etc but if a new gm wants him to get a shot, he will.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

He can sign there and still have an out clause in case he makes the NHL team. It's a way for him to force a 1-way deal and then if they want to send him down he will just play in Sweden.

 

[SEALBound]

Because we have no playoffs to drone over, I'm going to gush about our 4% possibility of picking 4OV.

Michkov or Carlsson would be major gets. That could be a tremendous transition piece. Again, I will continue to dream.

Looking at 14OV, I think I would look at two possibilities:

1. Pay to move up to 10OV-ish to see if you can snag Will Smith, or more realistically, Dalibor Dvorsky.
2. Trade down and ideally get a 2nd round pick - pick right around 22nd or so and take Matthew Wood.

 

[Power Surge]

Taylor Haase keeps saying Hallander is expected to sign in Sweden this off season.

I don't really get that decision on his part. He's one of our best prospects and a new GM might be inclined to actually give him a shot at the lineup soon. Yeah yeah Sully etc but if a new gm wants him to get a shot, he will.

Cause Sully is gonna do all sorts to keep him out of the line up. These guys are not stupid, they know the new GM is going to be another Beta Bob with no power.

 

[Gurglesons]

Taylor Haase keeps saying Hallander is expected to sign in Sweden this off season.

I don't really get that decision on his part. He's one of our best prospects and a new GM might be inclined to actually give him a shot at the lineup soon. Yeah yeah Sully etc but if a new gm wants him to get a shot, he will.

Cash and maybe his health? He’s had several significant head injuries.

 

[SEALBound]

it would stink to "lose" Hallander but it's hardly a significant loss. You can get Hallander level prospects in trade, in NCAA FA, and in NHL FA pretty easy honestly.

 

[Pancakes]

Hallander isn't an exceptional prospect or anything but he seems like a good bet to be a bottom six NHL forward and it sucks to lose a young cost controlled such player for nothing.

 

[The Old Master]

Because we have no playoffs to drone over, I'm going to gush about our 4% possibility of picking 4OV.

Michkov or Carlsson would be major gets. That could be a tremendous transition piece. Again, I will continue to dream.

Looking at 14OV, I think I would look at two possibilities:

1. Pay to move up to 10OV-ish to see if you can snag Will Smith, or more realistically, Dalibor Dvorsky.
2. Trade down and ideally get a 2nd round pick - pick right around 22nd or so and take Matthew Wood.

I've never seen you more positive. somehow it doesn't seem to fit.

 

[SEALBound]

I've never seen you more positive. somehow it doesn't seem to fit.

Pretty standard optimistic SEALBound to be honest. I always get a little too dreamy in the off-season because, why not?

The only time I get less optimistic when the FO doesn't do the things I tell them to do. As I tell my employees - if everyone just did exactly what I told them to do, there would be no issues in the world.

I could solve all of the world's issues but not one will listen.

 

[The Old Master]

Pretty standard optimistic SEALBound to be honest. I always get a little too dreamy in the off-season because, why not?

The only time I get less optimistic when the FO doesn't do the things I tell them to do. As I tell my employees - if everyone just did exactly what I told them to do, there would be no issues in the world.

I could solve all of the world's issues but not one will listen.

i agree! same with me, but all I get is banned.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm excited to see if the Pens can at least jump into the top-10. Highly regarded guys always drop, sometimes quite a bit. There's a real chance this team could end up with its first genuine blue chip prospect since Staal.

Related; I'm excited to look back and see who this miserable scouting crew passed on in like 5 years.

 

[Jacob]

Cash and maybe his health? He’s had several significant head injuries.

Several?

 

[Pancakes]

I'm excited to see if the Pens can at least jump into the top-10. Highly regarded guys always drop, sometimes quite a bit. There's a real chance this team could end up with its first genuine blue chip prospect since Staal.

Related; I'm excited to look back and see who this miserable scouting crew passed on in like 5 years.

Even at 14 we should be getting a genuine blue chipper. 14 is a lot better than the 20-25 range we're usually at.

If we win the lottery and get into the top 4 I forgive Hextall for everything he's done lol. In fact, that would be so gamechanging that I'd have to call Hextall a galaxy brain genius.

 

[Jacob]

I didn't realize the U18s already started. Are these on TV anywhere? Or streaming?

 

[Zero Pucks]

Taylor Haase keeps saying Hallander is expected to sign in Sweden this off season.

I don't really get that decision on his part. He's one of our best prospects and a new GM might be inclined to actually give him a shot at the lineup soon. Yeah yeah Sully etc but if a new gm wants him to get a shot, he will.

This season was so weird when it came to our prospects getting called up. Gruden was catching on fire in the AHL gets called up and then his game falls off a cliff (at least production wise), Poulin gets called up and then has a mental health crisis, Hallander gets called up and would rather play in Sweden next year.