The Playoff Race / The Lottery Race

[FLPensFan]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

[Michael74]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

[FLPensFan]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

Yeah, I don't know why I inversed it. Rangers don't have a choice though. If it's a top 13, it moves to 2026. If it's not top 13, the 2025 pick is ours. They have no ability to pick the year, it's all conditional.

[Michael74]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

Yeah, I don't know why I inversed it. Rangers don't have a choice though. If it's a top 13, it moves to 2026. If it's not top 13, the 2025 pick is ours. They have no ability to pick the year, it's all conditional.

That's not true, if you listened to Kyles presser or interview about it after the deal, he specifically stated that if it's in the top 13 the Rags would let him know 48 hours prior the draft if they keep the pick or not. I heard him very clearly state that. I promise I'm not lying to you here.

They could keep it or they could give it to us for whatever reason. Now, if it's 14OA to 32OA it's automatically ours. I would think they'd keep it if it's 13 OA but who knows. That said, they'll likely finish 14OA to 20OA anyhow.

[FLPensFan]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

Yeah, I don't know why I inversed it. Rangers don't have a choice though. If it's a top 13, it moves to 2026. If it's not top 13, the 2025 pick is ours. They have no ability to pick the year, it's all conditional.

That's not true, if you listened to Kyles presser or interview about it after the deal, he specifically stated that if it's in the top 13 the Rags would let him know 48 hours prior the draft if they keep the pick or not. I heard him very clearly state that. I promise I'm not lying to you here.

They could keep it or they could give it to us for whatever reason. Now, if it's 14OA to 32OA it's automatically ours. I would think they'd keep it if it's 13 OA but who knows. That said, they'll likely finish 14OA to 20OA anyhow.

I totally think you are lying!!! Kidding. I'm only going off of what is publicly out there, and with CapFriendly going away i find the accuracy between sites very lacking.

[Michael74]

With ANA loss tonight, Penguins are currently sitting in the Roger McQueen spot, aka #8 overall. Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell, and Eklund are considered the top 7 players. McQueen is 8th simply because he was highly rated in the past, but his injury situation has prevented him from staying in the top 5. Many don't even have him in the top 10.

McQueen is a huge risk because he hasn't played much this year. He recently came back from injury, and I believe he's played 4-5 games since his return. He only had a few assists. Friday night, he had a goal and 2 assists as Brandon beat Moose Jaw in OT. One thing McQueen would have going for him is you wouldn't have to wait a few years for him to fill out. He's already 6'5", 197lbs.

Buffalo and Boston play tomorrow night. Probably want Boston to win that game as they are close to dropping below the Penguins in the draft standings. Philly also plays tomorrow night against Tampa, and could use a Philly win.

As for the Rangers 1st rounder...CBJ has lost 3 straight and the Rangers now sit in the 2nd WC spot, which means their 1st round pick would come to us in the 2026 draft.

Here's a bit more on McQueen from about 5 months ago.

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

Yeah, I don't know why I inversed it. Rangers don't have a choice though. If it's a top 13, it moves to 2026. If it's not top 13, the 2025 pick is ours. They have no ability to pick the year, it's all conditional.

That's not true, if you listened to Kyles presser or interview about it after the deal, he specifically stated that if it's in the top 13 the Rags would let him know 48 hours prior the draft if they keep the pick or not. I heard him very clearly state that. I promise I'm not lying to you here.

They could keep it or they could give it to us for whatever reason. Now, if it's 14OA to 32OA it's automatically ours. I would think they'd keep it if it's 13 OA but who knows. That said, they'll likely finish 14OA to 20OA anyhow.

I totally think you are lying!!! Kidding. I'm only going off of what is publicly out there, and with CapFriendly going away i find the accuracy between sites very lacking.

Yep, If I didn't hear him say it directly I'd have a hard time believing that sorta stipulation myself. I was surprised to hear that. But if the Rags do pick say 13 0A I'd think they'd keep it. That being said they're gonna be 14 OA or better.

[Puck-Lurker]

No, if the Rangers make the playoffs or just miss we get this years 1st rounder from them. I'd prefer next years but this year it's top 13 protected. They could decide to give it to us anyhow but if they finish in the bottom 13 it's their decision. If they finish 14 OA to 32OA, we get the pick this year.

Yeah, I don't know why I inversed it. Rangers don't have a choice though. If it's a top 13, it moves to 2026. If it's not top 13, the 2025 pick is ours. They have no ability to pick the year, it's all conditional.

That's not true, if you listened to Kyles presser or interview about it after the deal, he specifically stated that if it's in the top 13 the Rags would let him know 48 hours prior the draft if they keep the pick or not. I heard him very clearly state that. I promise I'm not lying to you here.

They could keep it or they could give it to us for whatever reason. Now, if it's 14OA to 32OA it's automatically ours. I would think they'd keep it if it's 13 OA but who knows. That said, they'll likely finish 14OA to 20OA anyhow.

I totally think you are lying!!! Kidding. I'm only going off of what is publicly out there, and with CapFriendly going away i find the accuracy between sites very lacking.

Yep, If I didn't hear him say it directly I'd have a hard time believing that sorta stipulation myself. I was surprised to hear that. But if the Rags do pick say 13 0A I'd think they'd keep it. That being said they're gonna be 14 OA or better.

Current standings, we're picking #8 (PIT) and #16 (NYR)

Those are the kinds of stipulations that don't belong on a fan website like Capwages of Puckpedia, to be honest.

[ahawk9]

One thing that might get the Pens down the standings a little is that they've had a decent run and are, what, 8th? It seems quite a few of the bottom feeders have a small push near the end of the season, so if this was the Pens' run (assuming they don't reel off 5 more in a row) and a couple other teams go on a short one, they still could settle somewhere around 6th. If they win the next couple, then I'm thinking 8th would be the best they could do, with an outside possibility of falling to 10-12th...

Just rooting for Sid's points rightn now, although one good thing to see is that the younger pickups have provided energy to the once-stale lineup. I really hope that continues next season.

[EndO FanEra]

Pens currently sitting at 7th. A loss tonight will help stay below CBJ & gain some ground on Seattle & Philly. We could also really use a winning streak from Nashville & Buffalo down the stretch.

And don't look now, but the Rangers are sitting in the 10th spot. I thought they'd be somewhere around 15-17 by now, and heading towards a low 20's pick. Glad to see I was wrong.

The greedy/impatient part of me wants the pick for 2025. But if it slides to an unprotected pick in 2026, that will be a nice little asset. If the Rangers don't manage to right the ship next season, there's a reasonable chance we end up with 2 unprotected top 10 lottery picks. If Dubas can manage to pick up another 1st out of Karlsson or Rakell 2026, I could see us having enough capital to potentially trade up into the top 5 and/or into a meaningful pick.

[Pitts]

The greedy/impatient part of me wants the pick for 2025. But if it slides to an unprotected pick in 2026, that will be a nice little asset. If the Rangers don't manage to right the ship next season, there's a reasonable chance we end up with 2 unprotected top 10 lottery picks. If Dubas can manage to pick up another 1st out of Karlsson or Rakell 2026, I could see us having enough capital to potentially trade up into the top 5 and/or into a meaningful pick.

Don't we all really want this pick next year? Much better draft from what I read.

[Sigwolf]

Don't we all really want this pick next year? Much better draft from what I read.

Impossible to say. Certainly next years draft looks more promising. However, there is no way to know, at this point, where NYR's 2026 first round pick will fall. That is the great equalizer...

[Puck-Lurker]

More than anything, I want Pens to keep their 1st rounders, including the NYR pick and draft a player, have them in the system and get a feel for what we got.

[Antonio]

I would surrender all the picks to get rid of Sullivan. He'll just destroy anything we pick anyway.

[Puck-Lurker]

Sullivan is signed until the end of 2026-27. Two more seasons.

By the time we have to rebuild sans Crosby, he's gone. And let's be real we're not going to win the 2025, 2026 or 2027 Stanley Cup. I could see him fired in the final year or so at this point.

I don't like that Sullivan is here. But there's enough folks that want to tank. Sullivan gets you there.

[Antonio]

I expect more than 50 50 they re-sign Sullivan at this point. I have no serious expectation he is ever let go, given that he has done enough to be fired 50 times over in the last 10 years or so that in any other organization at any point in history, he would have 100% been fired several years ago.

[FLPensFan]

Penguins lose; Philly doesn't understand the assignment and loses 7-2 to TOR. BUF wins, and SEA is tied with CGY 2-2.

Penguins currently sitting 8th overall. To move up, Penguins really need Boston (sitting in 9th), Anaheim (7th) and Seattle (6th) to win. Philly sits in 5th, 4 points below us but even in games.

Penguins still have a realistic possibility of 6th overall. Not sure they can finish much lower than that. In terms of sliding back further in the draft order, they are a threat to pass Boston for 9th overall. They could hit 10th or 11th overall (which is DET and CBJ right now), but both those teams have 3 games in hand and a 3-4 point lead.

If the Rangers have the choice to give us this year's pick or next year's pick, I think the Rangers would be smart to give us this year's pick if they finish 10th to 13th overall (14th overall or better automatically goes to us). Knowing next year's draft is better and the potential 2026 pick is unprotected gives them better odds to get a better player next year, and also not screw up and be worse next year and automatically give us a better unprotected pick.

[Michael74]

Penguins lose; Philly doesn't understand the assignment and loses 7-2 to TOR. BUF wins, and SEA is tied with CGY 2-2.

Penguins currently sitting 8th overall. To move up, Penguins really need Boston (sitting in 9th), Anaheim (7th) and Seattle (6th) to win. Philly sits in 5th, 4 points below us but even in games.

Penguins still have a realistic possibility of 6th overall. Not sure they can finish much lower than that. In terms of sliding back further in the draft order, they are a threat to pass Boston for 9th overall. They could hit 10th or 11th overall (which is DET and CBJ right now), but both those teams have 3 games in hand and a 3-4 point lead.

If the Rangers have the choice to give us this year's pick or next year's pick, I think the Rangers would be smart to give us this year's pick if they finish 10th to 13th overall (14th overall or better automatically goes to us). Knowing next year's draft is better and the potential 2026 pick is unprotected gives them better odds to get a better player next year, and also not screw up and be worse next year and automatically give us a better unprotected pick.

They need to lose on thursday in Regulation. Let's hope that happens and go from there.

[ahawk9]

It really looks to me like 7th is where they'll end up heading into the lottery. The Ducks have three games in hand and only need 1 point to tie the Pens in points but I think they'd technically be ahead of the Pens because of regulation wins. Flyers seem to be as done as anyone in the league. Nashville won last night but has faded, same with Buffalo. Would love a regulation loss to the Sabres. I'm hoping for a 3-point game tonight between Anaheim and Boston.

[FLPensFan]

It really looks to me like 7th is where they'll end up heading into the lottery. The Ducks have three games in hand and only need 1 point to tie the Pens in points but I think they'd technically be ahead of the Pens because of regulation wins. Flyers seem to be as done as anyone in the league. Nashville won last night but has faded, same with Buffalo. Would love a regulation loss to the Sabres. I'm hoping for a 3-point game tonight between Anaheim and Boston.

OT win by the Ducks would be nice. Newest prospect rankings from Athletic came out yesterday and they are as follows.

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Frondell
6. Desnoyers
7. McQueen
8. Mrtka
9. Eklund

If you look at the 3 teams in front of the Penguins...Anaheim, Seattle, and Philly:

--Philly is the type of team that I could see going off board for someone like Ivan Ryabkin. He was once ranked in the top 10 but his stock has fallen heavily to where he is now considered the 9th best center in round 1. I could also see Philly, with their style of play, being more intrigued by the bigger McQueen.

--Seattle has Berniers and Wright at the NHL level as centers. They drafted center Berkley Catton last year in the 1st round, 2 more 2nd round centers in the AHL, and another 2 2nd rounders in Europe/Juniors. They have a ton of centers. I could see them looking at grabbing someone like Mrtka or Eklund.

--Anaheim probably goes center. They aren't happy with Zegras or MacTavish, which leaves them with Leo Carlsson, plus Nathan Gaucher still in the AHL.

If the Penguins finish 7th or 8th, they need to hope someone goes off board and picks someone generally ranked out of the top 10, someone goes defense instead of center (which is possible), or maybe a trade up to 5 or 6 position, which from 8th would likely cost them the WSH 2nd rounder and the OTT 3rd rounder to move up.

But if I'm Dubas, I'm doing what I can to move up if Frondell and Desnoyers are both there at #5.

[KG]

Craig Button is always off the board a little bit with his rankings. But here are his current top 10:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Frondell
5. McQueen
6. Hagens
7. Desnoyers
8. Schmidt
9. Eklund
10. O'Brien

I highly doubt Hagens falls to 6.

[Antonio]

Maybe they will win the lottery.

[largegarlic]

I don't really know anything about the top prospects, but I'm of the opinion now that the Pens should trade up to secure an elite talent if that's a possibility. I think they have a decent set of prospects right now who project to be solid middle-6 forwards or bottom-4 d-men, but they don't have any high-end guys, except maybe Murashov. I'm not talking about getting a future HOFer like Crosby or Malkin. Obviously, no one's going to trade that pick, but if they can package the Rangers' 1st with their own to move up and get a guy who's very likely going to be a legit 1st-line forward/top-pairing d-man, then I'd do it.

[100565]

Crazy to me, but if the Pens were 6-1 inshootout instead of 1-6, they would be fighting for a playoff spot! 74points in 73GP. Canadiens hold final spot with 75points in 70GP. still probably would not make it, but it could have been a possibility!

[FLPensFan]

I don't really know anything about the top prospects, but I'm of the opinion now that the Pens should trade up to secure an elite talent if that's a possibility. I think they have a decent set of prospects right now who project to be solid middle-6 forwards or bottom-4 d-men, but they don't have any high-end guys, except maybe Murashov. I'm not talking about getting a future HOFer like Crosby or Malkin. Obviously, no one's going to trade that pick, but if they can package the Rangers' 1st with their own to move up and get a guy who's very likely going to be a legit 1st-line forward/top-pairing d-man, then I'd do it.

This is my thought process as well. We need to find top 6 centers. If this draft is a bit weaker but we are still able to draft a future 2nd line center, that crosses off one big need of our list. Top 6 centers and top pairing defensemen are the hardest positions to fill. Those positions are almost never traded away at a young age unless they are severely underperforming (Sam Bennett in Calgary comes to mind) or have some other types of issues (Trevor Zegras comes to mind).

There's almost always a good bit of top 6 wingers available in free agency that you can sign some UFA wingers or trade for them to fill out your wings while later developing your own via the draft. A look at what Florida has accomplished proves this can work, as Barkov (1C), Lundell (3C) and Ekblad (1-RD) were the only contributing own drafted players on their cup team last year. They acquired the rest through astute trades and UFA.

Even if we had to give up our 1st, the Rangers 1st, and a player like Koivunen to get the center we wanted, I would do it in a heartbeat. For me, it's Frondell or Desnoyers in this year's draft.

[dark_forces]

I don't really know anything about the top prospects, but I'm of the opinion now that the Pens should trade up to secure an elite talent if that's a possibility. I think they have a decent set of prospects right now who project to be solid middle-6 forwards or bottom-4 d-men, but they don't have any high-end guys, except maybe Murashov. I'm not talking about getting a future HOFer like Crosby or Malkin. Obviously, no one's going to trade that pick, but if they can package the Rangers' 1st with their own to move up and get a guy who's very likely going to be a legit 1st-line forward/top-pairing d-man, then I'd do it.

This is my thought process as well. We need to find top 6 centers. If this draft is a bit weaker but we are still able to draft a future 2nd line center, that crosses off one big need of our list. Top 6 centers and top pairing defensemen are the hardest positions to fill. Those positions are almost never traded away at a young age unless they are severely underperforming (Sam Bennett in Calgary comes to mind) or have some other types of issues (Trevor Zegras comes to mind).

There's almost always a good bit of top 6 wingers available in free agency that you can sign some UFA wingers or trade for them to fill out your wings while later developing your own via the draft. A look at what Florida has accomplished proves this can work, as Barkov (1C), Lundell (3C) and Ekblad (1-RD) were the only contributing own drafted players on their cup team last year. They acquired the rest through astute trades and UFA.

Even if we had to give up our 1st, the Rangers 1st, and a player like Koivunen to get the center we wanted, I would do it in a heartbeat. For me, it's Frondell or Desnoyers in this year's draft.

This is where I am as well. Realistically, 7th seems like a good middle ground as a prediction. We need centers. Plus, there's always some team that goes a little off the board early, like I could see Seattle going after Jackson Smith, who's considered the second best defensive prospect who can really skate. (Earlier, someone mentioned Philly. I could see that too.)