Penguins aim to acquire more picks at the upcoming Draft
The Pittsburgh Penguins are approaching a pivotal moment as some of their legendary players near retirement, and their front office is fully aware of it.
Entering his second year as president and general manager, Kyle Dubas is committed to shaping a promising future for the team.
Dubas, along with the Penguins' scouting staff, is in Buffalo, NY, attending the annual NHL combine to evaluate potential draft prospects. Although the Penguins lack a first-round pick, Dubas is eager to acquire additional selections if the opportunity arises.
"The major focus for us is on right now acquiring as many young players, as many prospects, and as many draft picks as we can to try to infuse the team with really good young talent,» Dubas told NHL.com. «have that stocked up for the future as well and attempt to get us back into contention as quickly as we can.»
When the Penguins traded Jake Guentzel at the recent trade deadline, they acquired three key prospects in return. Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, and Cruz Lucias joined the organization, all ranking among the top 10 prospects.
That move clearly signaled Dubas' commitment to strengthening the Penguins' future with solid prospects. His strategy of accumulating as many draft picks as possible indicates the efforts that may unfold in the coming weeks.
The 2024 NHL Draft, scheduled for the end of June, sees the Penguins holding only six picks across seven rounds. To inject youth into the roster, it wouldn't be surprising if Dubas trades a veteran player for additional draft capital.
Source: The Hockey News
Penguins Looking to Add Picks at Upcoming Draft
POLL |
JUIN 9 | 144 ANSWERS Penguins aim to acquire more picks at the upcoming Draft Should the Pittsburgh Penguins trade a veteran player to acquire additional draft picks? |
Yes | 110 | 76.4 % |
No | 34 | 23.6 % |
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