JUST NOW: Why the Penguins should trade the 12th overall pick… Read more
As the 2025 NHL Draft approaches, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in an unfamiliar but valuable position — holding the 12th overall pick. While this kind of asset is typically a building block for teams in transition, the Penguins are in a unique situation where trading the pick might be their smartest play.
Here’s why:
🧊 1. The Sidney Crosby Window Is Still Open — But Closing Fast
With franchise legend Sidney Crosby turning 38 next season, the Penguins are straddling the line between a soft rebuild and one last playoff push. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are all nearing the twilight of their careers, but they remain productive. Wasting another season waiting for prospects to develop could mean wasting the final competitive years of Pittsburgh’s Big Three.
Trading the 12th pick for NHL-ready talent — especially a top-six winger, mobile defenseman, or a second-line center — would better serve the team’s short-term ambitions.
📈 2. The Prospect Pipeline Needs Help, But Not from a Single Draft Pick
The Penguins’ farm system has been ranked near the bottom of the league for years, but one pick won’t fix that overnight. The odds of a 12th overall pick becoming a franchise-altering star are moderate at best — and even if they hit, that player likely won’t reach full potential for 2–3 years.
If GM Kyle Dubas can turn that pick into multiple younger assets or a player in their early 20s who’s already NHL-tested, the team gets both future value and immediate impact — a win-win in Pittsburgh’s situation.
🧃 3. The 2025 Draft Class Lacks Clear Top-End Depth at No. 12
While the 2025 draft has some elite talent at the top, many scouts believe there’s a drop-off in high-impact upside after the first 8–10 picks. At No. 12, the Penguins could find themselves in a grey zone — too low for a guaranteed difference-maker, too high to ignore value.
In this kind of draft, trading down or out — especially to a team desperate to move up — could net Pittsburgh a better overall return, including additional picks or prospects.
🧠 4. Kyle Dubas’ Trade Track Record Suggests He’ll Explore All Options
As a progressive and proactive GM, Dubas isn’t afraid to make bold moves. He’s known for valuing analytics, roster flexibility, and asset maximization. If a team offers an established forward or defenseman in his mid-20s with term, or a combination of a later pick plus a young NHL-ready player, Dubas may very well bite.
This front office understands the balance between keeping one eye on the future and one on maximizing Crosby’s final chapter.
🛒 Potential Trade Targets to Explore
While the trade landscape will evolve, some realistic targets if the Penguins move the pick might include:
Martin Necas (Carolina Hurricanes) – Skilled, fast, and ready for a bigger role
Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) – High-risk, high-reward center who could thrive with veteran leadership
Jakob Chychrun (Ottawa Senators) – A mobile, puck-moving defenseman under contract
Multiple picks from a rebuilding team looking to move up
🏁 Conclusion: Win Now, Rebuild Later
The Penguins aren’t a rebuilding team — at least not yet. With Crosby and Malkin still productive and a fanbase not ready to see the curtain fall on this era, maximizing the value of the 12th overall pick via trade could be the most strategic move.
In short: the Penguins need more than a hope and a prospect. They need help now — and trading the pick might be the key to one last playoff run.
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