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Pittsburgh Penguins Talk: Grading the Penguins 2017 NHL Draft

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty-one first round selections in the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty-one first round selections in the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Patric Hornqvist (72) shoots the puck as Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) defends during the third period in game five of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Patric Hornqvist (72) shoots the puck as Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) defends during the third period in game five of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Shane Lunnen

Grade:  C

The biggest talking point from the Pittsburgh Penguins draft this year was the trade that sent Oscar Sundqvist and their first round 31st pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Ryan Reaves and their second round 51st overall pick.   Many in the Penguin fan base expressed their displeasure with this move, but we should let this play out first.  Reaves is a fourth line winger who plays physical and is coming off his best season points wise.  Trading away the last pick in the first round of a relatively weak draft to drop 20 spots is not as big of a deal as some fans made it out to be.

The Penguins used their second round pick to draft defenseman Zachary Lauzon from the QMJHL.  From what I’ve read about him, he’s a good skater and can move the puck.  Their third round pick was defensemen Clayton Phillips.  He was one of the youngest players in this year’s draft and has not even played at the college level yet.  He’ll be attending the University of Minnesota in another year after junior hockey.  He is incredibly green but has a lot of time for development.

The late rounds were spent on a winger, a center and two defensemen.  Pretty standard drafting for the Penguins and for most of these guys, a roster spot in Wilkes-Barre is the ceiling.  Overall with the 2017 draft class being on the weaker end, it was a middle of the road draft for the Penguins.  It wasn’t flashy, but there wasn’t a draft killing move either.

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