After a disastrous 2024-25 season along with missing the playoffs for a third straight season, the Penguins finished with the 11th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. But finishing 11th does not mean general manager Kyle Dubas is going to stay at that spot.
There are rumors going around that Dubas really likes a certain player that is going to be picked in the top 5, and NHL insider Jeff Marek supposedly knows what Dubas would like to do.
Jeff Marek: The Penguins are looking to move up from pick 11 in the first round - The Sheet
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 10, 2025
Now this should come to no surprise as the Penguins do not have a lot of quality prospects in their cupboard, but moving up in this draft would give them a high-quality player to add to that cupboard.
Penguins would not go wrong selecting Hagens or Martone if they were to move up
The Penguins do not have a lot of center or wing prospects that they can trust and rely on in their prospect pool or minor leagues and all their fans should know this.
But if the Penguins were to move up for Porter Martone or James Hagens, it would give them a true quality prospect that fans can be super excited for in the near future.
Both are quite the player and Dubas has his connections with Martone as Dubas did work over in the OHL where Martone played for the Brampton Steelheads and has met with him prior to the draft.
It likely will cost a lot to move up to pick 4 or 5
It is also rumored that the Utah Mammoth are taking calls and are potentially read to move down in the draft as they did not expect to get such high a selection from the draft lottery.
Utah does not have a pure goal scorer and if the Penguins were to offer them Rickard Rakell in a trade package for the 4th overall pick, they would not regret it.
Rakell had an awesome year for the Penguins this past year and would be the number one winger on the Mammoth and would be able to light the lamp and bring them closer to a playoff spot.