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

[Jacob]

Somebody always drops. It's a big reason I wish this team had more draft capital or expendable assets to try and move up into the top-10 if a chance to snag somebody like Michkov arose.

I think someone that is a consensus top-10 drops. Maybe a couple. There’s always things in the background nobody can predict, like a bad interviewer or an injury or something. And maybe we still pass on whoever falls.

Bobby Brink fell out of the 1st, I believe, because he measured about an inch and a half shorter than his listed height at the combine. And in NHL terms 5’8 1/2” is a big difference from 5’10”.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, I mean, every single draft a buncha teams look stupid by passing on guys who end up great players. I just hope the dumb luck is on this team's side and they end up with the gem.

 

[Ryder71]

Can't wait to see who KD taps as our pick in the first round. It's almost here, and like many here I'm girlishly flustered with excitement! Much like the Taylor Swift goers for tonight's second show. Not my thing, but I know a couple girlies who are going and they're very excited.

 

[Andy99]

If there’s anything worse than Taylor Swift, it’s the Pens odds of picking an elite talent in the first round…just trade the pick for Hellebuyck or Hanafin or someone like that…

 

[Peat]

I'll throw it out there that if the Pens are looking at talents that should go 20-30, maybe there's an idea of moving down in the draft.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'll throw it out there that if the Pens are looking at talents that should go 20-30, maybe there's an idea of moving down in the draft.

Dubas moving down in a draft would be a shocker!

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Yeah, I mean, every single draft a buncha teams look stupid by passing on guys who end up great players. I just hope the dumb luck is on this team's side and they end up with the gem.

I'll just be happy if we can finally draft someone who ends up being a top six forward/top four defenseman, instead of drafting guys who end up being best case scenario bottom six muckers.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'll just be happy if we can finally draft someone who ends up being a top six forward/top four defenseman, instead of drafting guys who end up being best case scenario bottom six muckers.

Yeah. I hope they go for high ceiling. Safe bets are lame, and not even safe bets work out very often.

 

[BusinessGoose]

I'll just be happy if we can finally draft someone who ends up being a top six forward/top four defenseman, instead of drafting guys who end up being best case scenario bottom six muckers.

At 14OA? I wouldn't expect much

 

[The Old Master]

I'll throw it out there that if the Pens are looking at talents that should go 20-30, maybe there's an idea of moving down in the draft.

all depends on how many, and who's left. I could see them moving down a few spots but not more than that.

 

[Turin]

Michkov is angling to be drafted by the Caps, according to Friedman…well, he didn’t name the team but we all know who it is lol…I guess he’s not promising to come over to play for other team a la Jagr and the Pens lol…someone needs to move in front of the Caps at #7 if he’s still there and call his bluff…hope it’s the Pens

He technically just said he’s wondering if he is trying to pick a certain team, never said the Caps necessarily but that is the team that seems most likely unless he was a huge Malkin fan or something lol.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

At 14OA? I wouldn't expect much

With good scouting (ie. the opposite of what we've gotten the past decade)? Why not?

Not including 2022 (because usually only the top 5 have a shot at making their clubs), these are the forwards drafted 14th OA or within about 10 picks of that slot since only 2017 that are either already or are very close to being top 6 forwards Wyatt Johnston (23rd)), Dawson Mercer (18th), Cole Caufield (15th), Joel Farabee (14th), Josh Norris (19th), and Robert Thomas (20th).

That doesn't even include defensemen who are trending toward top four defenders (if not already there) like Kaden Guhle, K'Andre Miller, and Braden Schneider.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I just want them to finally get back to committing to the draft. The quick fixes have not worked. They have made things way way worse. You cannot keep going to the well. At 14, in a very deep draft, I think they can land a very good player. I would be all for trading up to get someone they like, but I would also be even more interested in trading down in order to recoup that second-round pick that is lacking.

At 14, if we can draft a center, left-winger, right-winger or right defenseman, I will be happy. I do not think left defense should be considered in round 1, mainly because we have four young-ish guys with projectable NHL futures in Joseph, Smith, Pickering and Belliveau (and Pettersson is a young veteran, too). Yeah we might trade someone, but we will probably acquire a left D too.

I also would not draft a Russian in round 1. If Michkov is there at 14, trade down for a haul. In rounds 3-7, I would love to draft Russians. I just think the first round is too important, and I want the first-rounder to be in the NHL sooner rather than later. The ELC is too important.

My favorite players right now for pick 14 are Gabe Perreault, Brayden Yager and David Reinbacher. But Wood, Danielson, Barlow and Cristall are all solid options for us. If Ryan Leonard fell to us, that would be amazing, but highly unlikely. Sandin-Pellikka works for me, too.

There is no reason not to come out of this draft with lots of talent. Our prospect pool is a barren wasteland. This draft is important.

 

[Andy99]

Another worthless article,,,basically says no all the while saying they both have pros and cons lol…

Is Trading Down to Get Extra Draft Picks Worth It?

There has been much speculation — outside the organization, anyway — about whether the Pittsburgh Penguins will trade their first-round choice in the upcoming NHL Draft to acquire an additional selection or two a bit later in the process. Or, for that matter, whether they should do that...

pittsburghhockeynow.com

 

[Zirakzigil]

If there’s anything worse than Taylor Swift, it’s the Pens odds of picking an elite talent in the first round…just trade the pick for Hellebuyck or Hanafin or someone like that…

Id be fine with picking up either one of those players, but that pick isnt enough.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Good article, there will be a solid player for us at 14th, yes he won't be playing in the NHL right away but Helle is not putting us over the top either with the way our roster is shaped

I wish we got our 2nd back for him, not only the pick but cap reasons also for the next 2 seasons

Issue is even when that player does come around and can play in the NHL he's just a solid player on a shitty team. And when the team around him gets better he will likely be old and almost done or not in the current teams timeline.

It's the way I look at it anyway, move the pick or the player and see what you can put together with it now.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Andrew Cristall’s advanced stats have him looking like a top 5 pick. I want him or Perrault. I’d rather Reinbacher over both but the chances of him slipping to 14 seem slim to none now.

 

[McGroarty2]

Wood or Danielson

 

[The Old Master]

Andrew Cristall’s advanced stats have him looking like a top 5 pick. I want him or Perrault. I’d rather Reinbacher over both but the chances of him slipping to 14 seem slim to none now.

a guy his size needs to be a great skater, he's not. he would be a great later pick. imo

 

[The Old Master]

Wood or Danielson

don't want wood big winger that plays soft. need to keep him away from sully. Dany would be ok, nice safe player but doesn't have the upside as some risker players.

 

[Jacob]

Neither Benson nor Cristall have elite speed, though their edge work and stuff is pretty good, especially Benson.

 

[Andy99]

If we’re looking at forward, Leonard, Moore, Benson, possibly Perreault…otherwise move down, assuming we’re making the pick

 

[Ogelthorpe]

Over the past few weeks, I have become more and more in favor of drafting Oliver Moore. I keep hearing people say that he is the best skater in the draft, he has a very accurate shot, and he has an unbelievable work ethic…… that sounds good to me!

 

[Jacob]

Over the past few weeks, I have become more and more in favor of drafting Oliver Moore. I keep hearing people say that he is the best skater in the draft, he has a very accurate shot, and he has an unbelievable work ethic…… that sounds good to me!

I could see him being a Larkin-ish player. Hard to go wrong with elite speed, especially when the rest of his game isn’t too shabby either.

 

[Jacob]

BPA is a no brainer but it’s also not really a cut-and-dry question when you’re projecting a player 5-10 years from now, and also when you’re comparing different positions and different styles of players, and the style of the league can ebb over the years. Not to mention some players are playing against men and others against teenagers, and that necessitates them to adjust their style accordingly. Example being Reinbacher can’t play the same way in the Swiss-A that Dragicevic can in the WHL if he wants to stay in the lineup.

Then you’re factoring in there might be some not-insignificant age differences between players you have relatively closely rated or different levels of physical development, and is that good or bad? Is the gym rat just more maxed-out physically with less room to grow or does he continue growing or have more time to spend on developing other things. Is the weaker guy just a bit behind or is he genetically just always going to be a beanpole.