Now that the 2023-24 season is in the rearview mirror for the Pittsburgh Penguins with a second consecutive season of not making the playoffs, attention turns to the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery on May 7. The odds are not necessarily in the organization’s favor to keep their first-round pick due to the conditions tied to the Erik Karlsson trade last offseason, so why not take a look at the prospects that they do have in their system?
15: C/RW Lukas Svejkovsky – 2020 4th Round, 108th Overall
2023-24 Stats: 27 Games Played (GP) – 15 Goals (G) – 20 Assists (A) – 35 Points (PTS), Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)
19 GP – 2 G – 2 A, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
After a strong start to the season, Lukas Svejkovsky earned himself a few call-ups to the American Hockey League (AHL), spending 19 games with the “Baby Pens”, but was unable to truly get his game going and showcased in the AHL. He got himself involved in the offensive zone, showing the willingness to fire the puck, but was unable to get much past the opposing netminders. His drive and motor continued to be on display in the second half of the season, which helped him stick in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for as long as he did.
There were times throughout the season when he showcased his hockey IQ and strong mindset on the ice, but this upcoming season will be a pivotal one for the 23-year-old. If he can get his game back to where it was at the beginning of the season and look solid in camp, he could find himself fighting for a full-time spot in the AHL.
14: RW Cruz Lucius – 2022 4th Round, 124th Overall (Carolina Hurricanes)
2023-24 Stats: 36 GP – 13 G – 21 A – 34 PTS, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
One of the prospects the Penguins received at the trade deadline when they sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes, Cruz Lucius is an interesting prospect for fans to keep an eye on. After spending two seasons with the US National Developmental Program, he made the jump to Wisconsin to play for the Badgers. In the two seasons he spent with the school, he played at nearly a point-per-game pace but is viewed as a middle to bottom-six type of player.
Related: Grading Hurricanes’ Blockbuster Trade for Jake Guentzel
The development that he has shown since being drafted has been very noticeable as he has seriously worked on his defensive game and has become more of a two-way player than he was. With more development, Lucius could be a…
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