Penguins Not Expected To Use All Of Their 2025 Draft Picks

The Pittsburgh Penguins are not folding just yet despite another season in which they aren't expected to make the playoffs. Sidney Crosby is still playing great, some of the veterans still have game, and there is a young wave incoming. With Kyle Dubas as the GM, the Penguins expect to add and get better to get themselves back in the playoffs. They have a perfect example of how it is possible in the rival Washington Capitals.

The Penguins have 11 draft picks in the 2025 draft, most notably two in the first round and six in the first three rounds. That is some serious firepower to acquire a player ahead of the draft or at the draft if they so choose and teams are willing to play ball. Josh Yohe of The Athletic said that "they don't figure to use all of them" when speaking about the draft picks this year.

There may be certain players a team is having trouble signing, want to move off of, or are in a place where draft picks are more needed than a player. These scenarios will all help the Penguins utilize some of their picks to get better right now before Crosby and company retire.

The Penguins could realistically use help at all of the positions, but there are definitely some players that they are already targeting. Not only do the Penguins have 11 draft picks in this upcoming draft, the team has six draft picks in the first three rounds in 2026 and then six in the first three rounds in 2027 (eight in the first four).

With some of the trades the team has already made and the talent they have gotten back, a couple breakouts or breakthroughs on top of some talent added to the group will go a long way in making the Penguins a dangerous team and one that will have a much better chance at getting back to the postseason. Nobody wants to rebuild and I think the Penguins are in a good spot with assets to ensure that at least holds off for a few more years.