What the Draft Pick Swap with St. Louis May Mean for the Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a trade today that’s likely to leave fans questioning the logic behind it. But surely there is good reason for it, right?

The Pens traded their 2025 second-round draft pick, originally acquired in the Kevin Hayes trade, along with their 2026 fifth-round draft pick, to the St. Louis Blues. In return, the Penguins received St. Louis’ 2026 second-round draft pick and Ottawa’s 2025 third-round draft pick, which the Blues had previously acquired.

This move, however, has left many scratching their heads. By handing the Blues the flexibility to pursue restricted free agents—specifically, Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway of the Edmonton Oilers—through offer sheets, the Penguins might have inadvertently strengthened a Western Conference contender.

Broberg, a promising young defenseman, and Holloway, a skilled forward, could significantly bolster St. Louis' roster if the offer sheets go through.

The picks the Penguins received in return seem modest, especially considering the potential impact this deal could have on future competition. It begs the question: What is the strategy behind this trade?

Building Draft Capital for the Future?

The big takeaway for me is that while this trade might seem unusual for an August transaction due to the draft pick swaps, it’s clear why the Blues were motivated to push for it.

However, for the Penguins, there’s little immediate benefit for the 2024-25 season. Unless they plan to leverage these assets in another deal soon, it’s hard to see how this move helps them in the short term. Here's a breakdown of their updated 2025 and 2026 draft picks:

2025 NHL Draft Picks:

• 1st Round: Penguins
• 3rd Round: Penguins
• 3rd Round: St. Louis Blues
• 4th Round: Penguins
• 5th Round: Penguins
• 5th Round: New York Rangers (Reilly Smith trade)
• 6th Round: Penguins
• 7th Round: Penguins

2026 NHL Draft Picks:

• 1st Round: Penguins
• 2nd Round: Penguins
• 2nd Round: St. Louis Blues
• 3rd Round: Penguins
• 3rd Round: San Jose Sharks
• 4th Round: Penguins
• 7th Round: Penguins

For those eager to see the Penguins start building towards the future, this trade may offer a glimpse of that shift. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas appears to be taking steps in that direction.

When you look at the 2026 draft, the Penguins are positioned well with significant draft capital that could help bring in young talent for the long-term future, especially as the era of the Big Three—Crosby, Malkin, and Letang—begins to wind down.

While this trade might not generate much excitement for the current season, it signals a thoughtful approach to building for the post-Crosby era.