Rival trade!
It’s a draft day trade between rivals! What a time to be alive!
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the night with the 11th and 12th overall picks, they stuck at pick No. 11 and took center Benjamin Kindel with that pick. Then instead of using the next pick, which they only learned this week that they had for sure from the Rangers, the Pens decided to trade down.
Curious move, and even more curious considering they traded with their in-state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers. Just like that, Pittsburgh said what they thought about Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson, Jackson Smith and all the other prospects in this range — thanks but no thanks.
Instead, the Pens end up with three picks in the first round, for the first time in recent memory. Kyle Dubas trades a chance for what was left at quality in order to get more lottery tickets.
Philadelphia would opt to take 6’4” center Jack Nesbitt with the 12th overall pick.