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

[SomeDude]

Are we sure someone didn’t just plug “generic businessmen” into an AI art generator?

 

[Pens x]

Four guys with very little hockey sense. Acklin was Peduto’s gopher - now he’s a hockey executive.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Even if we keep the pick it’s not like we’re forced to keep the player. Prospects can maintain or increase their value if they have good D+1 - D+2 seasons.

I get it but the longer we hold the pick the less time we have.

Sure you can hold it, draft someone and see what they can do, but that's one more year closer to the 3-4 years this team won't be relevant

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

There will be good players that can have an impact down the road at #14 from everything we are reading from the pro scouts.

What I'm freaking out a little here is that Michkov might end up in Philly or Washington

 

[SomeDude]

What I'm freaking out a little here is that Michkov might end up in Philly or Washington

I’m confident Philly isn’t smart enough to pick him, but there’s no way he gets past the Caps. I could see Columbus taking him 3rd though.

 

[The Old Master]

A trade should absolutely be on the table, but not for a Zucker/Brassard type. Has to be someone just entering their prime.

and at what level? no one is going to trade a top line player just coming in to his prime for the 14th pick. now we could get a 3rd or a 4th. and continue our down ward spiral. no team wants to lose the trade. yet there are so many out there that think there are teams out there giving top players away. there just isn't that many jr's out there.

 

[Andy99]

Here’s one mock draft pick from The Hockey News…no thanks…either move up or down in draft or trade the pick…small and slow, great combo

“14. Pittsburgh - Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna: Besides Michkov, Cristall is another big X-factor because his production and offensive skill set are unquestioned, but his size and skating aren't great. Of course, Jake Guentzel wasn't an obvious NHLer when Pittsburgh drafted him and that one worked out pretty well in the end.”

 

[Pens1566]

and at what level? no one is going to trade a top line player just coming in to his prime for the 14th pick. now we could get a 3rd or a 4th. and continue our down ward spiral. no team wants to lose the trade. yet there are so many out there that think there are teams out there giving top players away. there just isn't that many jr's out there.

Yeah, you're not going to get much for the pick unless it's part of a bigger package. The one caveat I'd put on this is if some team was in cap hell and was looking to dump someone we like, then it might be of use. Outside of that, best case is to scout the hell out of the possibles, swing for the fences, and hope you end up with a pick like Pastrnak.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Here’s one mock draft pick from The Hockey News…no thanks…either move up or down in draft or trade the pick…small and slow, great combo

“14. Pittsburgh - Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna: Besides Michkov, Cristall is another big X-factor because his production and offensive skill set are unquestioned, but his size and skating aren't great. Of course, Jake Guentzel wasn't an obvious NHLer when Pittsburgh drafted him and that one worked out pretty well in the end.”

"But Size and Skating aren't great"

Yes, let's get another Nathan Legare. Surely that will reliably get us 20-25 goals per year!

 

[Andy99]

 

[McGroarty2]

My sources indicate Bedard is being investigated by Vancouver Police for his involvement in a string of violent beheadings.

My sources say Bedard has a fascination with blumpkins.

 

[LOGiK]

There are plenty of people in a given draft that will be future primo NHLers.
Do I have any confidence the penguins will pick one that will be a stand-out success.... hardly.

 

[The Old Master]

My sources say Bedard has a fascination with blumpkins.

have the pictures come out with him stealing puppies?

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Let me lay it out like this, even if we get a good NHLer at pick 14, lets say even a future "all star" by the time that kid is ready and here we will be at best a bottom to middle of the pack NHL team for at best 5 years.

That kid is 27/28 if we are lucky to turn it around and on his way out the door with 5-8 years of mediocrity. Sure we can root for some good players on the team but its not going to be good hockey.

When you still have Crosby and Malkin down the middle performing at the level they are performing at you go all in until they are dead. Hell look how the playoffs are shaping out this year. Boston, and the Rags who were both faves are outski.............team going on runs that werent expected to.

You build the best team around the talent you have NOW

 

[steelcityassault]

Four guys with very little hockey sense. Acklin was Peduto’s gopher - now he’s a hockey executive.

And Heasley goes from PR guy to this. Guy can't tie a skate properly

 

[orby]

Bedard wore Penguin pajamas as a kid (e5).

 

[Zirakzigil]

There will be good players that can have an impact down the road at #14 from everything we are reading from the pro scouts.

What I'm freaking out a little here is that Michkov might end up in Philly or Washington

Confident he goes to the Caps. I dont see any of the top 7 taking a swing at him, with all the risks involved. Caps have a record of doing well with Russian prospects, greatly helped by Ovi being there.

 

[Gurglesons]

Confident he goes to the Caps. I dont see any of the top 7 taking a swing at him, with all the risks involved. Caps have a record of doing well with Russian prospects, greatly helped by Ovi being there.

Honestly could see Anaheim taking him.

 

[Andy99]

If the Russian is there at 7 right before the Caps, we should trade up and nab him…but we won’t…no Russian first round picks under Sullivan…they’re too dynamic…he doesn’t want that…we need more grinders lol

 

[Gurglesons]

If the Russian is there at 7 right before the Caps, we should trade up and nab him…but we won’t…no Russian first round picks under Sullivan…they’re too dynamic…he doesn’t want that…we need more grinders lol

We don't have the assets to trade up.

Honestly, we should trade the pick. We can probably get a decent 23-25 year old player that we hopefully can bump up value on and trade for a 1st in a few years.

 

[Jacob]

How far up would Guentzel + our 1st get us? Any prior, similar trades?

I'm guessing it'd be, like, 6-8 picks. Probably not into the top 4.

If our pick was later like 25th Jake would move us up more spaces but the higher you get the more the scale slides.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Unless a great player drops to 14, you gotta trade the pick for help now. Preferably Helle or Saros

 

[The Old Master]

Let me lay it out like this, even if we get a good NHLer at pick 14, lets say even a future "all star" by the time that kid is ready and here we will be at best a bottom to middle of the pack NHL team for at best 5 years.

you'll have an all-star instead of nothing.

You build the best team around the talent you have NOW
if you had the trading chips to do that, then yes. we don't have the chips! right now we can only slow the fall off the cliff.

 

[Gurglesons]

How far up would Guentzel + our 1st get us? Any prior, similar trades?

I'm guessing it'd be, like, 6-8 picks. Probably not into the top 4.

If our pick was later like 25th Jake would move us up more spaces but the higher you get the more the scale slides.

None of the teams in the top ten outside of Vancouver and Washington are trying to compete next year.

 

[SEALBound]

Confident he goes to the Caps. I dont see any of the top 7 taking a swing at him, with all the risks involved. Caps have a record of doing well with Russian prospects, greatly helped by Ovi being there.

What him and Miroshnichenko be the foundation of a future #1 line.