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

[KareemTrustfund]

Martin Strbak , an X-gen favorite, has a son who is ranked second/third round. I think it would be fitting to have his son around for Z-gen.

 

[Turin]

Unless Michkov falls to 14 for no good reason and you think you can get a future superstar to help the team rebuild quickly in 3 years there is absolutely no reason to make the pick.

 

[mephisto1812]

Unless Michkov falls to 14 for no good reason and you think you can get a future superstar to help the team rebuild quickly in 3 years there is absolutely no reason to make the pick.

I agree, if "delaying" the rebuild is the cost of having another shot or two, I take the shot every day of the week. Unless you think you have a future superstar, you move the pick in whatever way moves the needle the most, either in a player, or in cap space.

I'm certain many won't agree with me and would prefer to begin the restock of the pipeline now... I get that. It's not a bad plan per say, I would just rather see what the team can eek out these final few years. After that, let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Ogelthorpe]

If the top 13 goes the way McKenzie's list says I would also go with ASP at 14. He's a name-brand that will have a larger role on Skelleftea and a very prominent spot on the WJC team, so he'll maintain his value around the league. And we can't be getting picky about positions, our prospect pool sucks top to bottom. And he's got high upside.

Honestly, I would really want to find a way to get Moore… if he is 13, moving up to 12 to get him shouldn’t be that hard….and that is provided Buffalo would take him at 13.
Best skater in the draft with a high IQ and work ethic…. At Center no less. If he’s that close, you gotta make it happen.

Based on McKenzie’s rankings, I’d look at Danielson as a good consolation prize. We have 3 centers over 35…. This is a deep draft, especially at center….we have to come away with one of the top Centers with our first, even if we have to move up a spot or two.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Unless Michkov falls to 14 for no good reason and you think you can get a future superstar to help the team rebuild quickly in 3 years there is absolutely no reason to make the pick.

Michkov, at worst, is going 8th to the colluding bastards from DC.

 

[The Old Master]

I agree, if "delaying" the rebuild is the cost of having another shot or two, I take the shot every day of the week.

our best shot at that would be to hit big on a draft pick. like a center that would allow Geno to move to wing. moore and yager could do that. both could cover the defensive side of the game both have the speed to get back and cover the slot helping out our de, and still join the rush on the offensive end. allowing geno to run free. both can kill penalty's yager has a great shot and he likes to use it which would help when we get into that all we want to do is pass rut and he's a righty that could swap with geno on faceoffs when needed. moore the better skater and is lefty so he could easily swap to geno's wing as they move down the ice and has the highest floor by a good bit.
right now moore is closer to the nhl than yager but neither are that far off. imo

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I'm not moving a point-per-game player like Malkin to wing. Down the road? Perhaps. Not now.

There is room on this team for a young center taken 14th. There is room on this team for a center taken 14th EVEN IF Dubas signs another center (O'Reilly, Kampf et al). Carter is one more year and done. Poehling has no contract right now, and Poulin is now an NHL long shot for various reasons. No one else is on the roster with any shot at winning an NHL job next season.

If we can draft a guy like Moore or Yager, do so. Whether they become NHLers at 19 after Carter is gone or whether they turn pro (in Moore's case) immediately and win a job in camp at age 18, no worries. This prospect pool is so barren, the 14th pick instantly becomes a candidate for a job the minute they hit the podium.

 

[The Old Master]

I'm not moving a point-per-game player like Malkin to wing. Down the road? Perhaps. Not now.

i don't think i said now but "blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken" being ridged and unwilling to try things has hurt this team for years. imo

 

[Andy99]

I don’t know why people think Malkin would be fine at wing in Sullivan’s system…he would not lol…his lack of speed would be exposed and Sullivan requires wings to do the forechecking and puck retrieval load…Malkin needs to be a center first and foremost where his lack of speed won’t hurt the team and can continue to be the trailer and work on taking the puck away in the D zone and giving it to the faster wingers

 

[The Old Master]

I don’t know why people think Malkin would be fine at wing in Sullivan’s system…he would not lol…his lack of speed would be exposed and Sullivan requires wings to do the forechecking and puck retrieval load…Malkin needs to be a center first and foremost where his lack of speed won’t hurt the team and can continue to be the trailer and work on taking the puck away in the D zone and giving it to the faster wingers

he would only be a winger in our end and for defensive responsibilities. he could easily move anywhere he wants on the rush. don't get locked in on perceived norms. hockey isn't a bubble hockey game where players are confined by slots as to where they can go.

 

[pensfan71]

he would only be a winger in our end and for defensive responsibilities. he could easily move anywhere he wants on the rush. don't get locked in on perceived norms. hockey isn't a peg hockey game.

Total hockey

I actually like the idea

 

[Jacob]

Malkin should be at wing. Or at least he should have a linemate that can take some draws and center responsibilities on occasion.

 

[Peat]

I don’t know why people think Malkin would be fine at wing in Sullivan’s system…he would not lol…his lack of speed would be exposed and Sullivan requires wings to do the forechecking and puck retrieval load…Malkin needs to be a center first and foremost where his lack of speed won’t hurt the team and can continue to be the trailer and work on taking the puck away in the D zone and giving it to the faster wingers

a) As pointed out before, we've seen slow wings succeed in Sully's system
b) Basically we need to build a line around Geno being Geno anyway, and that pretty much always needs a W who can handle the C defensive duties when Geno goes freelancing.

 

[maxpenguins6630]

I’d like us to draft Otto Stenberg or Eduard Sale.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I agree entirely with Dubas saying the pick isn't gonna matter in this era, and position isn't a reason to pass on one guy versus another. Pick the consensus BPA, and hope it's one of the rare instances where the roll of the dice works out.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Let's fix the things that are broken. The second-line center is one of the few reasons this team has a puncher's chance most nights.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I agree entirely with Dubas saying the pick isn't gonna matter in this era, and position isn't a reason to pass on one guy versus another. Pick the consensus BPA, and hope it's one of the rare instances where the roll of the dice works out.

BPA is, was and will always be such a cop out. Which BPA? Bob McKenzie's No. 14 prospect? Elite prospects' consensus 14th best prospect? Or the Penguins' own list? The latter is what teams mean and it can be such a lengthy list of players from team to team that it renders the term meaningless.

If the 14th best player on the Penguins' list is a Russian or a goaltender, then they should look away and move to the next guy.

Also, in a salary cap era, where the player toiled in his draft year and (more importantly) where he is scheduled to play in the follow-up season is very important as well.

I hate the narrative of timeline when it comes to sports. People are talking about trading our pick because drafting and developing a player right now does not fit the timeline. I would argue that the reason it does not is because we keep kicking the prospect can down the road! People are also talking around the league about certain teams taking Michkov because his arrival falls in line with their plans to contend. Plans to contend? You draft a guy because he could throw all of your plans out the window. You don't try to be bad. You are bad. Fix it.

The draft continues to be vastly underrated as a means to become a better team more quickly than the narrative.

You want to trade 14 for a core piece, someone young enough to take us into the post-87/71 era in better shape? I am on board, depending on the player.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

BPA is, was and will always be such a cop out. Which BPA? Bob McKenzie's No. 14 prospect? Elite prospects' consensus 14th best prospect? Or the Penguins' own list? The latter is what teams mean and it can be such a lengthy list of players that it renders the term meaningless.

If the 14th best player on the Penguins' list is a Russian or a goaltender, then they should look away and move to the next guy.

Also, in a salary cap era, where the player toiled in his draft year and (more importantly) where he is scheduled to play in the follow-up season is very important as well.

I hate the narrative of timeline when it comes to sports. People are talking about trading our pick because drafting and developing a player right now does not fit the timeline. I would argue that the reason it does not is because we keep kicking the prospect can down the road! People are also talking around the league about certain teams taking Michkov because his arrival falls in line with their plans to contend. Plans to contend? You draft a guy because he could throw all of your plans out the window. You don't try to be bad. You are bad. Fix it.

The draft continues to be vastly underrated as a means to become a better team more quickly than the narrative.

You want to trade 14 for a core piece, someone young enough to take us into the post-87/71 era in better shape? I am on board, depending on the player.

Nobody says the draft is a way to get better quickly. But it's *the* way to build a winner.

The 14th doesn't get you anybody worthwhile. The last few guys this team got for roughly this pick were Kapanen and Zucker. Woo, great stuff. Real paradigm shifting talents.

There is no timeline to fit. The era's over. The best thing they can do is just not f*** things up like JR and Hextall did while pretending to be relevant, which they aren't. I get that you can't/won't accept that, but this roster needs more work than can be done while the two big guys are still playing, let alone at a high level.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

BPA is, was and will always be such a cop out. Which BPA? Bob McKenzie's No. 14 prospect? Elite prospects' consensus 14th best prospect? Or the Penguins' own list? The latter is what teams mean and it can be such a lengthy list of players from team to team that it renders the term meaningless.

If the 14th best player on the Penguins' list is a Russian or a goaltender, then they should look away and move to the next guy.

This is a shortsighted take. By the time this player is NHL-ready, the Russian climate could very well have thawed.

Also, goalie is actually the one position that this team has been pretty decent in terms of identifying talent. Why would you pass on a goalie that could be a starter 3-4 years from now?

I don't get the logic of your qualifiers at all

 

[The Old Master]

BPA is, was and will always be such a cop out. Which BPA? Bob McKenzie's No. 14 prospect? Elite prospects' consensus 14th best prospect? Or the Penguins' own list?

my list is the only one that matters. you know that, i'm sure.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

This is a shortsighted take. By the time this player is NHL-ready, the Russian climate could very well have thawed.

Also, goalie is actually the one position that this team has been pretty decent in terms of identifying talent. Why would you pass on a goalie that could be a starter 3-4 years from now?

I don't get the logic of your qualifiers at all

Eh I see where he's coming from. Outside of a Michkov Miracle I see no reason to go Russian. Things could change but I dunno... I think it's gonna be REAL tricky getting guys out of that country for quite some time, now. Even a talent like Michkov comes with pitfalls... though I'd still personally take that risk.

As for goaltenders... meh... don't draft 'em in the first round IMO. The Penguins already have a couple pretty good bingo balls there, anyway. And they got them in later rounds (2 and 4).

 

[Turin]

Gonna be really sad if Michkov goes to Philly or Washington.

 

[SomeDude]

Eh I see where he's coming from. Outside of a Michkov Miracle I see no reason to go Russian. Things could change but I dunno... I think it's gonna be REAL tricky getting guys out of that country for quite some time, now. Even a talent like Michkov comes with pitfalls... though I'd still personally take that risk.

It’s really being overblown, though. Prospects like Chibrikov, Miroshnichenko, Duda, and later round picks like Komarov with Buffalo are coming over next year. Fringe players like Gusev and Tkachev are also rumored to be coming back over to try to stick.

Just like with just about everything else in the world, if you have money and/or superior athletic ability, things are easier for you.

Whoever is available at 14 is going to be 2,3, or 4 years away from the NHL whether they come from the KHL, CHL, NCAA, or any other league.

Just draft the player you think is the best no matter what chunk of land mass they happened to have been born on.

 

[The Old Master]

The 14th doesn't get you anybody worthwhile. The last few guys this team got for roughly this pick were Kapanen and Zucker.

moore and yager are not kappy and zuck. would love either one. but my favorite would be yager he's a bigger risk but has higher upside.

 

[The Old Master]

Whoever is available at 14 is going to be 2,3, or 4 years away from the NHL whether they come from the KHL, CHL, NCAA, or any other league.

maybe not. right now there are better plays that will be available at 14 that are better than carter and maybe some others if we are going on talent only. it might be better for the kids development not to play in the nhl but that's a deferent story.