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Penguins make highest first round selection in over a decade
June 29, 2023, 2:10 PM ET [243 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
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It has been a while but the Pittsburgh Penguins have made a selection in the top 15 of the draft. They selected Brayden Yager with the 14th overall selection. This is the highest selection they've made since Derrick Pouliot at #8 overall in 2012.





Here is Kyle Dubas talking about the selection





Here is Corey Pronman





Thoughts on the pick: Yager is an excellent two-way center despite his lack of size. He plays with NHL pace, he has an excellent shot and he has good skill. He may not be the most dynamic small player you’ll ever see, but he has pro traits. The question is whether he will be an NHL center or wing at his size but he can be a top six forward for the Penguins in a few years.


As for me, my thoughts have been expressed leading up to the draft. The risk reward of using the pick doesn’t line up with where the Penguins are as a team. Even if the Penguins were in a complete rebuild and using the selection was a no brainer, 14th overall has very mixed results. First round picks aren’t as sure fire as the average fan thinks. It isn’t the NFL or the NBA. In the NHL you are dealing with 17- and 18-year-olds instead of players in their early 20’s.





The odds of this player helping now are very minimal to zero. The odds of this player helping later aren’t even terrific. I think the value of the player you could have gotten in a trade with the first-round pick was a missed opportunity. I think it is a buyer's market out there as the Taylor Hall, Tyler Toffoli, and Reilly Smith trades showed.

The philosophy of making the selection is usually framed as a now versus then, but there’s no guarantee with then, either. It might just be nothing. That’s the beginning and end of it for me. I wanted a tangible asset and not a lottery ticket. There will be plenty of time to do the lottery ticket thing. It didn't have to start this offseason.



As far as the actual selection of Yager it was perceived as a little bit of a reach of a selection by some. Yager, despite being the Penguins highest pick since 2012, isn’t considered their top prospect.





Hard to fault the logic, there.

While I’m not philosophically on board with the selection there is the human side of things. I think it is clearly a great moment for Brayden Yager, his family, and all the people who helped him get to the point of being a #14 overall pick. These are great moments for the players. I imagine getting a phone call from Sidney Crosby welcoming you to the team is this generations version of someone like myself getting one from Mario Lemieux, very cool.



The work continues for Kyle Dubas and the Penguins. The team has a 3rd, 5th, and two 7th round picks today with free agency looming around the corner. Congratulations, to Brayden Yager.

Thanks for reading!
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