Chris Kreider Dealt Blow To the Pittsburgh Penguins Draft Hopes

However, the Rangers Metropolitan foes the Pittsburgh Penguins bag will be a bit lighter this year.

That was due to Alternate Captain Chris Kreider, whose natural hat trick eliminated any hope of the Penguins having a 1st round pick this draft.

That was due to the Penguins choosing to trade Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes, with a conditional pick, whereas if the Hurricanes would advance to the Stanley Cup final, the Penguins would receive a first and fifth-round pick.

Now of course, which is null and void, thanks to Don Waddell fleecing Kyle Dubas.

So now, instead of receiving the 31st or 32nd overall pick, the Penguins will be pushed back to the 2nd round in the draft instead of receiving the 44th pick in the 2024 draft, which is a Philadelphia Flyers pick, previously owned by the Hurricanes.

So while the Penguins did instead receive a haul of prospects with Michael Bunting attached, the Penguins will not have a chance at higher caliber prospect in 2024.