PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There was a 1.5% chance the Pens would get the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft. In the case of picking out of the top 10, that pick would go to San Jose as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. The Pens landed at 14.
Pens will get Carolina's first-round pick in the NHL Draft if the Canes reach the Stanley Cup Finals, otherwise that is a second-round pick. So, it likely will be another year without a first round draft pick for the Pens for getting Karlsson. If it were a top 10 pick, the Pens would have had the option to keep that pick and automatically trade the 2025 first-round selection. The Sharks get the 14th and 1st overall selection in this year’s draft.
Here is how it broke down, from the bottom to the top
· 16-St. Louis
· 15-Detroit
· 14-PENS traded to San Jose
· 13-Minnesota
· 12-Philadelphia
· 11-Buffalo
· 10-New Jersey
· 9-Calgary
· 8-Seattle
· 7-Ottawa
· 6-Utah
· 5-Montreal
· 4-Columbus
· 3-Anaheim
· 2-Chicago
· 1-San Jose
Last year the Pens took center Brayden Yager with the 14th overall selection and the 19-year-old had 35 goals and 60 points in 57 games with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League. Recent first round picks:
· Owen Pickering-defenseman 21st overall in 2022
· Sam Poulin-forward 21st overall in 2019
· Kasperi Kapanen-forward 22nd overall in 2014
· Derrick Pouliot-defenseman 8th overall in 2012 (trade with Carolina)
· Olli Maatta-defenseman 22nd overall in 2012
· Joe Morrow-defenseman 23rd overall in 2011
· Beau Bennett-forward 20th overall in 2010
The NHL Draft will be held in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29.