With the Penguins trade of Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to the Vancouver Canucks last season, part of the return to the Penguins was a conditional first-round pick (originally the New York Rangers pick) that could either be given to the Penguins now or be deferred to 2026.
But Rangers general manager Chris Drury made his decision Tuesday to send the pick to the Penguins and now the Penguins stand with the 11th and 12th overall pick in tonight's first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Now having picks 11 and 12 gives Dubas all the options in the world of what to do with them. Let's jump into those scenarios shall we?
The Penguins have acquired the 12th pick (originally belonging to the New York Rangers) in the 2025 NHL Draft, completing the trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 24, 2025
The Penguins now hold 2 picks in the first round, and six picks in the top-100.
Details:… pic.twitter.com/gSpGvfNTVl
Option 1: Dubas can keep both picks and select the best player available
The Penguins are in a rebuild and need all the star talent/great players that they can get in the next few drafts. With two first-round selections at Dubas's disposal, he can keep them and select at both picks.
Dubas could end up selecting players like Roger McQueen, Kashawn Aitcheson, Victor Eklund, James Hagens if he falls. Any of those two players would be quite the two back-to-back picks if Dubas decides to keep them.
2 of those 4 players would really do wonders on the Penguins prospect pool and really help out the team in the future.
Option 2: Dubas can use both picks to move up into the top 5
This is a scenario that has been thrown around a lot on Twitter by fans and even some insiders. Everyone knows that there is serious star power in the top 5 of this draft and then there is a drop-off.
The Penguins have had talks with the Chicago Blackhawks as the Blackhawks have pick 3 and it has been known that the Penguins really like Porter Martone.
And it is known that the Penguins like James Hagens. Either of these players would be worth using both picks for to move up into the top 5.
"One thing to keep an eye on, though: the Blackhawks have been shopping this pick, or at least have expressed they're open to offers on it, and the Rangers, Sabres and Penguins have all discussed it with them." ... Now i've seen #NYR in on Utah 4th, Boston 7th and now Hawks 3rd. https://t.co/dh0Kmgam0Y
— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) June 24, 2025
Option 3: The Penguins can use one pick and one of their roster players to move into the top 5
It is well known that the Penguins are listening to offers on Bryan Rust, RIckard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson among others. It would make sense to use either Rust or Rakell in a trade to move up into the top 5 and use either pick 11 or 12 as the other asset to help them move up.
It would make sense for the Blackhawks or the Utah Mammoth to take on Rust or Rakell as both need scoring help and would like to continue to improve their teams and the Penguins need a top lottery pick badly.
It would be a win-win for the Penguins and either the Blackhawks or Mammoth if Dubas went this route.