PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Rangers have decided the first-round pick owed to the Penguins because of a trade will be given for this year. The condition of the deal would originally be either this year or next.
That means the Pens will have back-to-back selections in the first round on Friday for the NHL Draft, numbers 11 and 12 overall. They will have the 59th overall pick in the second round from the Capitals in a trade. There are three picks in the third round (selections 84, 85, 105). One in the fourth, two in the fifth round and a pick in the sixth and seventh.
Among the players ranked nine through 15 by TSN’s Bob McKenzie
· Forward, 6’5”, 195-pound Roger McQueen (WHL)
· Left wing 5’11”, 170-pound Victor Eklund (Sweden)
· Defenseman 6’6”, 218-pound Radim Mrtka (WHL)
· Defenseman 6’3”, 190-pound Jackson Smith (WHL)
· Defenseman, 6’2”, 199-pound Kashawn Aitcheson (WHL)
· Left Wing, 6’, 179-pound Carter Bear (WHL)
· Defenseman 6’2”, 198-pound Logan Hensler (NCAA, Wisconsin)