Thursday: The Penguins have now officially announced the decision, keeping their 2020 first-round pick.
Wednesday: When the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from postseason contention in the qualification round and the NHL held Phase 2 of the draft lottery, GM Jim Rutherford had a decision to make. They could give the Minnesota Wild their 2020 first-round pick, which will be the 15th selection in this fall’s draft, to complete the Jason Zucker trade from earlier this season, or hand over their 2021 first-round pick instead. They had seven days to make that decision, but today Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports the Penguins will in fact keep the 2020 pick and give up their 2021 selection instead.
This decision does not come without risk. The 2021 selection is not protected in any way, meaning even if the pick is first-overall by way of winning the 2021 draft lottery, the Wild would still receive it. That would require the Penguins to miss the playoffs again, something that Rutherford obviously doesn’t count on doing.
It’s not the first time a team made a decision like this. The Ottawa Senators famously decided to hold onto their fourth-overall selection in 2018 and select Brady Tkachuk, giving up their 2019 pick to the Colorado Avalanche in the process. As it turned out, that pick ended up being fourth as well, which the Avalanche used to select Bowen Byram.
Obviously, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the way, the Penguins feel as though they should be contenders for the Stanley Cup every year, let alone the playoffs. That confidence is held for good reason—the Penguins had made it to the playoffs every year since 2007, Malkin’s first season.
Another interesting thing to keep an eye on might be what Rutherford does with the 2020 pick, now that he has it. 15th would be the highest selection the Penguins have made since 2012 when they picked Derrick Pouliot. If Rutherford believes he can win in 2020-21, there’s nothing stopping him from dealing this pick for some help before the October draft.
Pens needs:
Right shot top 6 forward who can play the left wing wall on the PP where Phil Kessel used to play, but hopefully who won’t dog it on defense.
Depending on whether they keep Bryan Rust or not, they might need another top 6 forward.
Ideally, they’d find a whole new third pairing on defense, but worse comes to worse, they can shove Jack Johnson to the press box and dress Chad Ruhwedel as the #6 RHD. That leaves a left shot third pairing D man who can skate and ideally handle some PP duties.
If they decide to move McCann to wing, they need a third line center. Hopefully, a right shot with some snarl.
Trade chips include this #15 pick, Matt Murray, Rust, Aston-Reese, Johnson (negative value) and Bjugstad (negative value).
Good luck, Jimmy.
The only positive is that by letting Schultz walk, moving one of Johnson or Bjugstad and replacing Murray with a cheaper backup for Jarry, they should have a decent amount of cap space for once.
I agree with what you said
Poulin Legare and POJ all must play next year and live through growing pains. Keep your #1. Use it. You need it. Stop recycling other peoples’ trash. Trade Murray for picks. Build a pipeline. Resign Rodrigues to play 3rd center.
Really exciting for the Pens to finally be falling off
We are slipping. Only had the sixth best record in the league this year.
The pens aren’t built for the playoffs anymore swept last year and besides the first 2 games the Habs outworked them the Last 2
Giving away their pick next year is going to haunt them big time
That’s what you think. What you know is nothing.
And you know more how? If you can’t see the pens declining I honestly think your hockey knowledge is very weak
I think the play was to forfeit it, break up what they have, and rebuild.
Does anyone really believe the Pens will use this pick? Ain’t no way in the world. It just gave them a better trade chip to use
I don’t think the strategy of “trading every first rounder ever” is the best way to go, especially for a team on the decline.
I totally agree. But why do you change course this year when you’ve already made it known you are going to keep going for it?
Gary. How many Stanley Cup parades have you seen?
Gonna see at least 1 in NYC pretty soon.
Lol best thing about the comment is the fact that you got 2 teams in NY, 3 counting Buffalo and you haven’t sniffed a cup in a while
A guy who fits exactly what the Pens need is Alex Tuch. Does a #15 pick pry him out of Vegas?
Or (and I don’t know how the Pens would make this work cap wise but)…if Vegas wants to keep Lehner, they have to move Fleury and his $7 million a year deal. MAF has a NTC. The one place he would likely waive it for is Pittsburgh.
Could Jimmy work a deal where we take MAF and get Tuch in the deal, too?
I’m sure Vegas would like to keep Tuch, but he’s a third liner there and they have cap issues and Cody Glass on the way. He might be the expendable one there.
They can’t afford MAF and Jarry.