Jan 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) skates with the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins center
Brandon Sutter(16) defends during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
2011 First Round
So we have reached the end, and this is going to conclude as most everyone assumed it would. The 2011 First Round pick of Joe Morrow over local kid and Stanley Cup champion Brandon Saad is the bane of many Penguins fans existence.
The Penguins had traded away their 2008 first and second round selections, selected defensemen Simon Despres and Phillip Samuellson in rounds one and two in 2009, and traded away their second round pick in 2010. Out of a possible six top-sixty picks the Penguins only had Beau Bennett to show for the three years leading up to the 2011 NHL draft.
It was assumed that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be looking for young cost controlled skill to pair with the new high dollar contracts awarded to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. This was not the case as General Manager Ray Shero went against the recommendation of his scouts and chose Portland Winterhawks defenseman Joe Morrow with his first round selection.
The theory behind this pick, however flawed, was that the Penguins could develop puck moving defenseman and flip these assets for established NHL wingers whose styles meshed with the team. This never came to fruition as the combined return for these assets (Sneep, Despres, Samuellson and Morrow) included Ben Jovejoy, Rob Klinkhammer, Brendon Morrow, a 3rd round draft pick, and a conditional 7th round draft pick. In essence the Penguins traded two first round and two second round selections for a 6th defenseman, forty games of replacement level play and a 3rd round pick. This is the reason why the Penguins have a current glaring depth issue in their developmental ranks.
Next: Tyler Biggs an Underrated Part of the Phil Kessel Exchange