As the 2019 NHL Draft rolls around, the Pittsburgh Penguins stepped to the podium for only the third time at the 145th overall pick. Earlier in the weekend they have nabbed a couple of heftier (and fairly good hands players) in forwards Samuel Poulin (21st overall) and Nathan Legare (74th overall).
In the past the fifth round has been home to the Pens’ overage drafting strategy, but they departed from that in a big way by going with the recently turned 18-year old winger Judd Caulfield from the uber-successful US National Development team. Caulfield in fact was the eye-popping 15th player from that team drafted, which is certainly shaping up to be one of the most memorable and important young squads that hockey has ever seen.