WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Given the Stanley Cup Final went the distance with an exciting seven games, hockey fans may not have realized that the 2024 NHL Entry Draft was lurking in the shadows. Now that the Cup belongs to the Sunshine State, the time has come for the draft to step into the spotlight this weekend.
Hosted at Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, the first round of the 2024 Draft will take place on Friday, June 28, followed by rounds two through seven the next day, Saturday, June 29.
The Pittsburgh Penguins do not own a first-round pick this summer, but they do possess a pair of second-round selections. Those picks come almost back-to-back, slotted in at 44th and 46th overall.
With two picks in quick succession like that, there are several different strategies that Kyle Dubas and his staff could employ. The Penguins could elect to take a high-ceiling prospect with one pick, and then a safer, high-basement player with the other. They could swing for the fences and go for big-time, boom-or-bust style prospects with both picks. Of course, they could also just stick with their list and tackle their best player available at both spots.
While we do not have a crystal ball to know what Dubas and co. will be thinking when it comes time for Pittsburgh to submit their picks to the central registry, we can forecast some of the names that might be available at that point in the draft. The following are eight names to keep an eye on when the Penguins are on the clock in round two…
COLE HUTSON (D) USNTDP – This may be wishful thinking, but a scan of various scouting services shows that this dynamic defenseman could be late-first-round fodder or still potentially be available for Pittsburgh at the 44th or 46th pick.
Hutson is a dynamic defenseman who can skate like the wind and distributes the puck with ease. He can fly on the rush or change directions on a dime, and you’ll rarely see him mishandle plays. He’s a defenseman who wants the puck on his stick and demands to make an impact on the game.
However, his great offensive prowess can come at a cost in his own end. At 5-foot-10, 165-lbs., he’s not a physical powerhouse at the net-front, either. But if he commits to rounding out his defensive game, his ability to produce offense can potentially reshape an organization’s blue line in an instant.
HARRISON BRUNICKE (D) Kamloops Blazers – Staying on the back end, right-handed shot Harrison Brunicke doesn’t put up the same kind of numbers…
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