{"id":450316,"date":"2024-09-15T14:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=450316"},"modified":"2024-09-15T12:54:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T16:54:17","slug":"the-pittsburgh-penguins-top-five-draft-hits-since-2005","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/09\/15\/the-pittsburgh-penguins-top-five-draft-hits-since-2005\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pittsburgh Penguins Top Five Draft Hits Since 2005"},"content":{"rendered":"

A large part of the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> success has been their draft success. This article analyzes the teams top five draft hits since 2005. the Pittsburgh Penguins have built a legacy as one of the NHL\u2019s best franchises. While top picks like Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Evgeni Malkin<\/a> have led the team, the Penguins’ ability to find value in later rounds has been crucial to their success. Some of the team\u2019s most impactful players were drafted outside of the first round, where they were developed into key contributors on multiple Stanley Cup-winning teams. This article highlights the Penguins’ five best draft picks since 2005\u2014namely players whose value exceeds their draft position.<\/p>\n

Five Best Penguins Draft Picks Since 2005<\/h2>\n

#5. Olli M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4<\/a> (2012) \u2013 Drafted 22nd Overall in Round One<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Entering the 2012 draft, the Penguins were facing a transitional period. Star centre Jordan Staal<\/a> had made it known he wanted to join his brother Eric in Carolina<\/a>. While the 8th<\/sup> overall pick Derrick Pouliot<\/a> received a bulk of the attention this night, 22nd<\/sup> overall pick Olli Maatta<\/a> would go on to have a larger impact on the team. The Finnish defenceman became known for his poise and ability to play a responsible two-way game.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 made an almost immediate impact on the Penguins. His early debut came in the 2013-2014 season as a 19-year-old. This was due to many injuries leading to a period of the season where all four of the Penguin\u2019s top defenders were out with injuries. Maatta displayed maturity beyond his years, contributing both offensively and defensively as soon as he got into the lineup. He continued to play a key role all the way into the Penguins\u2019 back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. He provided valuable minutes on the blue line during these runs. Although his career in Pittsburgh had ups and downs, mainly due to injuries, M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u2019s steady play made him one of the Penguins\u2019 best first-round picks of the post-2005 era.<\/p>\n

#4. Bryan Rust<\/a> (2010) \u2013 Drafted 83rd Overall in Round Three<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Forward Bryan Rust was selected 83rd overall in the third round of the 2010 NHL Draft. Hailing from the NCAA system, Rust was seen as a utility player with potential that would need time to develop. As such, his selection did not have much immediate fanfare. However, the Penguins\u2019 patience with Rust paid off handsomely in the long-term.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Rust has developed into one of the most versatile and reliable forwards in the Penguins’ lineup. He emerged as a key player during the Penguins\u2019 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup runs. His knack for scoring critical goals in the playoffs made him a fan favourite instantaneously. Rust\u2019s speed, tenacity, and ability to play anywhere in the lineup make him invaluable to the roster. His ability to perform in high-pressure situations make him one of the most important players in the organization even now.\u00a0 Acquiring such an important player in the third round is a significant victory for the Penguins.<\/p>\n

#3. Matt Murray<\/a> (2012) \u2013 Drafted 113th Overall in Round Four<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Taken in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Matt Murray was seen as a long-term goaltending project for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although he was seen as a young goaltender with considerable potential, almost no one expected him to perform as well as he did as quickly as he did. However, Murray\u2019s development turned out to be one of the best surprises for Pittsburgh at a time they needed him most.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Murray made his NHL debut in the 2015-16 season, quickly establishing himself as a reliable starting goaltender. His career highlights came when he became a crucial part of the Penguins\u2019 Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. Notably, Murray won the starting job from long-time starter Marc-Andr\u00e9 Fleury<\/a> during both playoff runs. Murray’s calm under pressure and ability to handle postseason play at a young age paid off in spades. His incredible performances ensured the Penguins could get past tough opponents like the Washington Capitals<\/a>, Tampa Bay Lightning,<\/a> and Ottawa Senators<\/a> over the set of Cup runs. Murray\u2019s two Stanley Cups make him one of Pittsburgh\u2019s top draft steals since 2005.<\/p>\n

#2. Jake Guentzel<\/a> (2013) \u2013 Drafted 77th Overall in Round Three<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Superstar forward Jake Guentzel was selected 77th overall in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. At the time, Guentzel was seen as a skilled forward with a high hockey IQ in need of a lot of development. Similarly to Murray and Rust, the Penguin\u2019s development system around this time paid off in spades. Guentzel\u2019s potential was realized and then some.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jake Guentzel\u2019s impact on the Penguins was immense. Making his debut during the 2016-2017 season, he immediately showcased his offensive talents. The star forward exploded in the 2017 playoffs, leading the Penguins with 13 goals as a rookie en route to their second straight Stanley Cup. Guentzel proved his ability to consistently produce with multiple 30 goals seasons. His chemistry with Sidney Crosby made them a dynamic duo in the NHL for many years. For being just a third-round pick, Jake Guentzel\u2019s offensive prowess and playoff performances cement him as one of the Penguins\u2019 best draft picks in recent memory.<\/p>\n

#1. Kris Letang<\/a> (2005) \u2013 62nd Overall in Round Three<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Franchise cornerstone Kris Letang was drafted 62nd overall in the third round of the 2005 NHL Draft. While he was known for his offensive ability as a defenseman, almost no one expected Letang to develop into one of the league\u2019s elite blueliners due to his place being drafted in the later rounds.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Letang has been the backbone of Pittsburgh\u2019s defence for more than a decade. His elite skating, offensive contributions, and ability to play heavy minutes in all situations have made him indispensable to the Penguins\u2019 success. Letang\u2019s long career with the Penguins spans over 1,000 games and over 700 points. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in two of the three Penguins’ Stanley Cup victories during his career. His performance in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, where he scored the Cup-clinching goal, highlights his importance to the team. Letang\u2019s offensive impact and longevity make him the Penguins best \u201chit\u201d draft pick since 2005, and arguably the best defenceman in team history.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n

The Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 success since the 2005 lockout is a testament to their ability to find hidden gems in the later rounds. Players like Kris Letang, Jake Guentzel, and Bryan Rust have played pivotal roles in the team\u2019s core during Stanley Cup triumphs. Meanwhile Matt Murray and Olli M\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4 have delivered key performances when the Penguins needed it most during these runs. The Penguins\u2019 draft acumen during this time allowed them to remain competitive for over a decade. As such, these five players stand out as some of the best examples of Pittsburgh’s ability to find and develop talent through the NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Main Photo: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A large part of the Pittsburgh Penguins success has been their draft success. This article analyzes the teams top five draft hits since 2005. the Pittsburgh Penguins have built a legacy as one of the NHL\u2019s best franchises. While top picks like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have led the team, the Penguins’ ability to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5231,"featured_media":451004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,4547,4548],"tags":[1061,906,259,478,608],"class_list":["post-450316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-penguins","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-bryan-rust","tag-jake-guentzel","tag-kris-letang","tag-matt-murray","tag-olli-maatta"],"modified_by":"Tommy Bennett","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5231"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=450316"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450316\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/451004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=450316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=450316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=450316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}