The Penguins Draft – Move Along, Nothing to See Here.

Well, now let’s stop with the tomfoolery, the Penguins really did nothing to improve themselves at the NHL draft. The Penguins started with only 6 picks in the draft and ended up only using 4 of them, trading the other 2 picks away and considering how poorly they used those picks, no big deal.

Without a top 10 pick it was hardly likely that the team would find a player that would make an immediate impact for their NHL roster but only 1 of the picks may make an impact on the Baby Penguins, next year or ever.

Please understand that I am not trying to be mean, just objective; the Penguins’ 1st pick, a 2nd round pick (53rd overall) was just one more undersized defensemen, Calen Addison 5’-10”. There are those that say he is a perfect example of the new breed of defenseman in the NHL. I sure hope they are right, for the team’s sake and for us fans. However, looking at the several Norris trophy winners in Table A, I am not filled with much optimism. I am not seeing a single Defenseman over the last 10 years under 6’-0” tall in that list. In fact the last 2 winners were well over 6’-0” tall, indicating the trend to be the opposite. With the NHL Players Safety farce turning a blind eye to 10 time loser, goon Tom Wilson, it would seem that bigger Defenseman should be the trend. Even if Addison were to make the club he would be just one more clay pigeon for Wilson to snipe.

Table A: Norris Trophy Winners

Season	Player	Hgt
2017-2018	Victor Hedman	6′-6″
2016-2017	Brent Burns	6′-5″
2015-2016	Drew Doughty	6′-1″
2014-2015	Erik Karlsson	6′-0″
2013-2014	Duncan Keith	6′-1″
2012-2013	P.K. Subban	6′-0″
2011-2012	Erik Karlsson	6′-0″
2010-2011	Nicklas Lindstrom	6′-1″
2009-2010	Duncan Keith	6′-1″
2008-2009	Zdeno Chara	6′-9″
2007-2008	Nicklas Lindstrom	6′-1″

The Penguins’ 2nd pick (58th overall) , also in the 2nd round Filip Hallander ( is interesting. Although he is not rated exceptional in any one area of his game, he is only 17 and said to be solid in all aspects of his game. The scouts say he isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas and liken him to Patric Hornqvist. He is 6’-2” and projected as a Center and/or Left Wing (C/LW).

The Penguins’ 3rd pick, a 5th round pick (129th overall) was another undersized player, Justin Almeida (5’-9” 158lbs. He did have 43 goals and 98 points in 72 games last year in the WHL, but I can see Tom Wilson licking his chops to bully him too. I sure hope he is stronger on the puck than Conor Sheary.

The Penguins’ 4th and final pick came in the 6th round pick (177th overall), Liam Gorman. He is going the College route, so it may be 4 or 5 years before we see him even in Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

Table B Penguin Draft Picks at a Glance

Rnd	OA	Player	Po	Sh	Hgt	Wgt	Age	League	GP	G	Pts
2	53	Calen Addison	D	R	5′-10″	178	18	WHL	68	11	65
2	58	Filip Hallander	C/LW	L	6′-2″	188	17	Sweden	40	9	20
5	129	Justin Almeida	C	L	5′-9″	158	19	WHL	72	43	98
6	177	Liam Gorman	C	L	6’3″	194	18	HS	30	17	33

With the organization so paper thin on Defense, they opted to draft only 1 defenseman and that 1 Defense was undersized. Well maybe the Free Agent market (FA) or trade options will be kinder to the team. Fortunately for this year, the team isn’t that far off, but I am sorry, I am worried about the future. I may not be as pessimistic as our friend and fellow Penguin Poop contributor Jim, from north of the border, but I do share his trepidation to a lesser extent.

‘nuff said, let’s move along.

Go Pens!