The Pittsburgh Penguins' recent draft history has been a rollercoaster, with a mix of promising prospects and underwhelming picks. Over the last decade, the team has had to navigate the challenges of drafting without a first-round pick and making strategic trades to maximize their chances of success.
One of the most notable drafts was in 2025, where the Penguins showed promise with the Ben Kindel pick, a non-top 10 selection that could become a valuable contributor. However, the overall grade for this draft remains incomplete, as it's too early to judge the full impact of the picks. The team's approach to drafting without a first-round pick and focusing on later-round talent is a strategic move, but it requires patience and careful evaluation.
In 2024, the Penguins' draft class showed potential with the emergence of Brunicke, a teenage defenseman who made a seamless transition to the AHL. Several other players from this class also had successful AHL seasons, indicating a positive trajectory. However, the team's lack of a first-round pick and limited top-100 picks might hinder their immediate NHL prospects.
The 2023 draft was a mixed bag, with Yager's underwhelming performance and the trade of Pieniniemi raising questions. The team's decision to trade Yager early on might have been a wise move, considering his post-draft performance. Ilyin's AHL debut and McGroarty's potential as a stand-in for Yager offer some hope, but the overall grade for this draft remains uncertain.
2022 saw the Penguins draft Pickering, who struggled to make an impact in the NHL. Murashov, however, has shown promise as an AHL goalie, and his potential as an NHL player is a bright spot for the team. The grade for this draft is a C-, with the possibility of improvement if Murashov lives up to the expectations.
2021 was a challenging year for the Penguins, with only one top-150 pick in Broz. His limited NHL action and lack of long-term impact raise questions about the draft's success. The team's strategy of drafting without a first-round pick and focusing on later-round talent is a risk that didn't pay off in this instance.
2020 brought a D+ grade, with Clang providing value in a trade and Blomqvist as a decent AHL goalie. The team's decision to draft goalies with their top-100 picks was questioned, as it didn't yield a major NHL player. The lack of high-value picks contributed to the overall underwhelming performance.
2019 was a disappointment, with Poulin and Legare failing to make an impact, and Puustinen's brief NHL career. The team's inability to develop young talent from this draft class is a concern. The grade for this year is a D-, indicating a need for improvement in future drafts.
2018 saw the Penguins struggle with Hallander's underwhelming performance and the lack of significant gains from the draft. The trade of Addison in the Jason Zucker deal was a positive, but the overall grade remains a D-, reflecting the team's challenges in prioritizing draft picks.
2017 was a disaster, with the Penguins producing a draft class with zero NHL games played. The lack of first-round picks and limited top-150 picks contributed to this failure. The grade for this year is an F, highlighting the team's struggles in drafting and developing talent.
2016 brought a D+ grade, with Gustavsson's rise to an NHL starting goalie being a notable achievement. The team's ability to find a starting goalie in a late-second-round pick is a testament to their strategic drafting. However, the trade of Gustavsson raises questions about long-term planning.
