The Pens pick twice in Friday night’s first round
The Penguins have learned they will be having two draft picks in the first round of Friday night’s 2025 NHL draft. The New York Rangers had a top-13 protection clause on the pick, originally traded to Vancouver that the Pens acquired in the Marcus Pettersson trade, per multiple reports on X.
Breaking: Rangers have notifed the NHL that they are sending this year’s 12th overall first-rounder to Pittsburgh to complete the JT Miller deal instead of deferring the transfer to 2026, Post has learned.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 24, 2025
The #NYR are transferring the 12th overall pick in Friday’s draft to Pittsburgh to satisfy the conditions on the J.T. Miller trade.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 24, 2025
Rangers have officialy decided on sending the 12th overall pick in Friday’s draft to Pittsburgh (the conditional 1st originally traded to Van for JT Miller, then flipped to Pitt by Van). Part of the thinking in keeping next year’s 1st Rd pick instead is that it might be a trade…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 24, 2025
Had the Rangers not given up their pick this year, Pittsburgh would have had the NYR 2026 first round pick with no opportunity for New York to protect it. Instead NYR gets to keep next year’s draft pick for their own purposes.
The Penguins currently possess the 11th pick, and now with the 12th pick could have the trade ammunition needed to move up in the draft. It is believed that the Pens are very interested in players expected to be drafted high like Porter Martone and Brady Martin, and having an extra first round pick could certainly open up more opportunities and avenues for how they might be able to use it.
As of now, this marks the first time in franchise history that the Penguins possess consecutive draft picks in the first round, per Bob Grove. That makes Friday night’s proceedings even bigger for the rebuild efforts that Kyle Dubas is endeavoring to make.