Team: 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: May 28, 2020

Published: May 31, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is all merely theoretical. Don't lose your mind over it.

Assumption #1--The Pens somehow lose the play-in round to MTL. On paper that's almost impossible but let's say it happens, for arguments sake. In the event that the Pens lost, Pittsburgh would blow up and rightfully so. The format is a total gong show by allowing CHI and MTL in when they had a combined 2% chance of making the playoffs--MTL with 0.0% of that. Teams won't have played for months--it will be a brand new season. Upsets will be the norm.

Assumption #2---and it's a HUGE one.
The Pens get lucky and a lottery ball with the skating penguins pops up and Gary Bettman has to learn how to breathe again. This would make the rest of the NHL blow up--and why not? A Stanley Cup contender who was top-5 in the League for months has now won the lottery because of a gimmicky playoff system. And GMJR was genius to protect that pick he traded to MIN for Zucker.

Assumption #3--The pens make the pick. This is not as set in stone as some think. PIT has made only 2 1st round picks in forever--one was traded to bring Phil the thrill in. If the pens come in at #3, I would not be shocked if GMJR trades the right to draft Stutzle or whomever to X team for a boatload of assets to win now. I wouldn't. I take the pick, 1-3.

Pens win #1 OVR pick--Alexis Lafreniere.
This is already a story and it's the longest shot ever to actually occur. From one generation to another, Pittsburgh wins a long shot lottery to select a superstar from the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic. We've heard that before--and it altered the franchise. If PIT drafted Lafreniere, it would be incredible, obviously, but where would he slot it? There's no guarantee he will light up the league like Sid did his first year. It may end up like a Hughes year as he's adjusting. worst case is you have a superstar-in-the-making on the 3rd line--or make Zucker/Guentzel learn to play RW.
Lafreniere-Crosby-Guentzel
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Simon-McCann-Hornqvist
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Pens win #2 OVR Pick--Quinton Byfield.
This would certainly fit with past precedents. The pens drafting a (hopefully) franchise centre with a #1/2 pick. Cue Mario, Sid, Geno. And then we find a future top-pair D with our 3rd round pick. Byfield is absolutely sick. His passing is silky smooth. He's big(215 lb), lightning fast, and you can't teach 6' 4". He has a great shot, but his one slight weakness I think is puck control. Just in his goal highlights, he lost the puck a few times--like his feet are faster than his hands. I'm not a scout though--just my observations. I think he slots in as the best #3C in the league for now and when, not if, Sid or Geno get hurt he is more than capable to move up. Give him McCann/Erod/Simon/X speedster and that line would be epic.

Pens win #3 OVR--Tim Stutzle.
German winger who's stats aren't eye popping but he's a kid playing in Germany's top men's league and holding his own. He's still be great but on the surface not quite to the level of the top-2.
Guentzel-Crosby-Simon
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Stutzle-McCann-Hornqvist
Buzzsaw

I'll construct the below team with #2 pick Byfield in mind.

I usually CBO Hornqvist and trade JJ but I wonder if Hornqvist could be traded. Where would he waive to go to?

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