You don't always have to have the #1 or #2 overall draft pick to get a high level, star player (though it certainly helps). Likely you aren't going to find them where the Pens draft this year (around 23-24). There you find a Samuel Poulin, a Joe Morrow, a Kasperi Kapanen.
But eventually the Pens are going to pick high. Look at some of the top young players not picked 1 or 2 overall:
Carolina: Seth Jarvis (who is fantastic as a 20 year old) was a 13th pick. The Rangers Bayden Schneider was a 19th pick in 2020. Anaheim's excellent and possible ROY Travis Zegras was 9th overall in 2019. By the way, of all the top 25 NHL draft picks in 2019 to yet play an NHL game, the only one is Sam Poulin (poor drafting).
In 2018, the Rangers Tok K'andre Miller at 22! In 2017 The Rangers took Filip Chytyl at 21!
We know the Pens haven't had many 1st rd or 2nd rd picks. But do you guys know the last Penguin draft pick to score a point (let alone a goal) for the Penguins? That would be Dom Simon from the 2015 draft. It's one thing to trade picks. Jim Rutherford's drafts yielded NOTHING for the Pens. While Ray Shero traded away alot of 1st rd picks, he still drafted Guentzel, Rust, Murray, Jarry, Blueger, etc....
Hextall's first draft is incomplete. But this franchise needs to start taking the draft a bit more seriously. The time is finally here.
But eventually the Pens are going to pick high. Look at some of the top young players not picked 1 or 2 overall:
Carolina: Seth Jarvis (who is fantastic as a 20 year old) was a 13th pick. The Rangers Bayden Schneider was a 19th pick in 2020. Anaheim's excellent and possible ROY Travis Zegras was 9th overall in 2019. By the way, of all the top 25 NHL draft picks in 2019 to yet play an NHL game, the only one is Sam Poulin (poor drafting).
In 2018, the Rangers Tok K'andre Miller at 22! In 2017 The Rangers took Filip Chytyl at 21!
We know the Pens haven't had many 1st rd or 2nd rd picks. But do you guys know the last Penguin draft pick to score a point (let alone a goal) for the Penguins? That would be Dom Simon from the 2015 draft. It's one thing to trade picks. Jim Rutherford's drafts yielded NOTHING for the Pens. While Ray Shero traded away alot of 1st rd picks, he still drafted Guentzel, Rust, Murray, Jarry, Blueger, etc....
Hextall's first draft is incomplete. But this franchise needs to start taking the draft a bit more seriously. The time is finally here.