The Penguins seem intent on doing something highly unusual with their first-round draft choice Friday evening: Use it to secure the rights to a teenaged prospect.
If, in fact, they hold onto their No. 1, the 21st in the opening round, it will be the first time since 2014, and just the second in the past seven seasons.
They have routinely dealt their top choice during the past decade or so to bolster their lineup for a long playoff run, and have three Stanley Cups in 11 seasons to show for it.
Trades involving first-rounders tend to be high-risk/high-reward moves, and the Penguins have made some that worked out brilliantly, and others that were abject busts.