Twelve years ago today, the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft was held here in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena.
It was the second time the draft was held in Pittsburgh, previously hosting the 1997 Draft at Civic Arena.
Nail Yakupov was taken first overall in the draft.
The Penguins made a splash when they traded Jordan Staal and made two selections during the first-round of the draft.
The weeks and days leading up to the draft were filled with speculation about Staal’s future with the Penguins and that speculation came to roost during the draft when Gary Bettman knew how to stoke the flames of the crowd with the infamous words “We have a trade to announce.