After Penguins fans happened to be disappointed with how the NHL Draft Lottery results went, it is time to start thinking about the first-round of the draft. It is time to start thinking about who general manager Kyle Dubas is going to select with their first rounder that falls at pick 11.
According to experts for a few different sites, the results are really in different areas. Some have them going defense, some have them taking a center, some have them taking a winger. Who is mocking which player to the Penguins? Let's find out!
Daily Faceoff
Let's start with DailyFaceoff.com. Steven Ellis who wrote this article, actually has the Penguins going defense with pick 11 in his mock draft.
He has the Penguins taking Kashawn Aitcheson and this would be a home-run pick. The Penguins need someone who can play defense and really defend and occasionally score some goals. Aitcheson can do all of these things, and if he is available at pick 11, Dubas should be sprinting to the podium to select him.
Kashawn Aitcheson (D - Barrie) Round 1 Highlights vs. Niagara. A short sampling of some of his work in that series, including one of the more devastating hits you'll see all year. Gonna be right in the wheelhouse of the Penguins. Special player. pic.twitter.com/PQdXJ7FBTr
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) May 8, 2025
Bleacher Report
Now let's shift our focus to BleacherReport.com. Lyle Richardson who wrote this article, has the Penguins going center with pick 11 in his mock draft.
Richardson has the Penguins selecting Roger McQueen with this pick. There are concerns with him as he has injury history, but if he can stay healthy and if the Penguins medical staff trust his medicals, this would also be a home-run pick.
The Penguins seriously lack center prospects especially when Crosby and Malkin retire, and McQueen would be a nice start to fixing that.
Roger McQueen is back in action for the Brandon Wheat Kings, and while there's still some injury rust left to shake off, he's flashing the same toolsy upside that has scouts excited. When he gets going he's a real handful
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) March 18, 2025
Here are some clips from his two most recent games (#13): pic.twitter.com/zXu6gks4K8
The NHL Official Site
Lastly let's shift our focus to NHL.com. Adam Kimmelman and Mike G. Morreale who co-wrote this article, have the Penguins going Defense and Center with pick 11. They both take players who the experts on DailyFaceoff and Bleacher Report did not take.
Kimmelman took Jackson Smith and Morreale took Brady Martin. Smith has some concerns of being heavily overrated and someone that the Penguins would not want. Martin is someone that would really be a good fit for the Penguins. He is big, physical, and can really get on the scoresheet, traits the Penguins lack in their lineup.
Brady Martin is a wrecking ball. pic.twitter.com/k8Top7Y5Kv
— Matt Meagher (@Flux_cc) April 30, 2025
Any of these picks would be good ones outside of Smith, the Penguins will have a ton of good options at pick 11 and should make a good pick regardless of who is on the board when their spot comes.