Day One of the 2025 NHL Draft is officially wrapped, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were certainly one of the more active teams in the first round.
But, maybe just not in the way you might think.
Heading into Friday's first round, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas and his Penguins were slated to select back-to-back at 11th and 12th overall after receiving the New York Rangers' 12th overall pick to satisfy the condition of the Marcus Pettersson and J.T. Miller trades. It gave them a ton of flexibility in terms of direction, and it also guaranteed them two quality players within the top-12.
But Dubas and vice president of player personnel Wes Clark saw a different opportunity. They went ahead and selected center Ben Kindel with their own 11th overall pick, but - with the Philadelphia Flyers wanting to trade up - they saw an opportunity they couldn't pass on.
So, they traded the 12th overall pick to the Flyers in exchange for the 22nd and 31st overall picks, which guaranteed them three first-rounders instead of two. Pittsburgh selected center Bill Zonnon with the 22nd pick, and they traded their 59th overall pick and the 31st pick to the Los Angeles Kings to move back up and draft Will Horcoff at 24th overall.
And Dubas feels pretty good about the three players they got.
“We’re excited about the results for us," Dubas said. "For us to come out of the first round with the three players that we did – I think they’re all very different player types – we’re extremely excited and look forward to tomorrow.”
It may not have been the popular, consensus path for the Penguins, but Dubas certainly got creative and defied outside expectations a bit.
Here are three takeaways from the Penguins' first day of the NHL Draft.
NHL Draft Live Reaction: Join The Chat For The Round 1 RecapDay 1 of the 2025 NHL draft included some surprises, steals and moving moments. The Hockey News is here to react to it all.
1. The overall focus on centers was a very serious thing.
If one thing was made abundantly clear in the first round of this year's draft, it's that center depth was certainly being prioritized.
Of the top-15 picks in the draft, 13 were forwards. And of those forwards, 11 were centers.
There was a lot of chatter ahead of the draft that some names could fall because of the high volume of centers projected to go in the first round. Even some centers, by most accounts, not being projected as selections until at least the 20s - such as Kindel, Jack Nesbitt, and Cole Reschny - were taken before 20.
The center position was a strength in this draft class, and teams certainly took advantage of it - and, in some cases, moved up to ensure they got their guy. It did push a few really good players back to the 11th overall slot for the Penguins, and it gave them options.
But they decided to take the same road as the others did.
Reaction: Penguins Select Center Ben Kindel 11th Overall In 2025 NHL DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is finally upon us.
2. Whether intended or not, the Penguins drafted for positional need.
On a related note: Dubas stressed in his post-first-round press conference with the media that the Penguins didn't exactly go in with the intention of drafting three centers.
But, at some point, it became clear that they were drafting for positional need.
The Penguins have goaltending prospect depth as well as defensive prospect depth. They also have several players who are capable of slotting in on the wing. But Dubas and Clark were aware that their center prospect pool was pretty dry, so they took advantage of the high volume of centers in this draft class.
"It was just a quality-of-player thing and where they came out on our board and how they graded out for us," Dubas said. "We were fortunate we got some 'D' last year that are already signed and ready to come in, plus [Emil] Pieniniemi from the class before, which we’ll develop. Especially with the varying style from all three of them, we were very excited about it.”
Reaction: Penguins Select Forward Bill Zonnon With 22nd Overall PickThe Pittsburgh Penguins have officially made their second of three first-round selections in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
3. Three is better than one.
Perhaps the most interesting tidbit to come out of Dubas's presser was his response when asked about whether or not they considered trading up in the draft.
“If we would have moved up, we would have ended up with just having one player tonight as well," Dubas said. "Which, we would have been happy with. But we’re thrilled with the players that we have.”
There was a lot of buzz about the Penguins being interested in moving up, and there was even some trade talk surrounding veteran forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Dubas and the Penguins obviously thought the price was too hefty to move up, and they pounced on the opportunity to, instead, select three first-rounders by moving down with the New York Rangers' 12th overall pick.
Dubas understands the discourse surrounding the "quality v. quantity" approach. But, in this case, he believes they hit on both.
"I think you're trying to find that balance between having a lot and having quality... and we have to deliver," Dubas said.
He continued: "We believe that all three are going to be very high-quality players in the NHL. So, we're excited about that, excited to get to work with them. Obviously, when you're in our position, you're accruing picks and prospects – but you have to make good on them. You have to draft good players. You have to do a great job in developing them. We'll turn them over after today to [director of player development] Tom Kostopoulos, and we'll get to work."
Reaction: Penguins Take Will Horcoff As 24th Overall SelectionAfter a long night of anticipation, the Pittsburgh Penguins made what is presumed to be their final draft selection in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
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Feature Image Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News
