Using first-round draft choices wisely can accelerate a team’s effort to rebuild, or to solidify its place among Stanley Cup contenders.
Drafting teenaged hockey players is a most imprecise pursuit, however, and every club has had its share of promising prospects who never come close to realizing their perceived potential, for any number of reasons.
The Penguins certainly are no exception.
With the 2019 draft set for this weekend in Vancouver, DKPittsburghSports.com will take a look at the 10 best – and 10 worst – first-round selections in franchise history. The rankings are based not only on what they did with the Penguins, but a player’s performance over the course of his NHL career (if he had one).