NHL Mock Draft Roundup: How Experts Project Penguins Pick Post-Lottery

The Penguins earned a pick outside of the top 10 in the NHL draft lottery, but they still have an opportunity to add a top player for their prospect pool.

Pittsburgh will pick 11th in the 2025 NHL Draft. General manager Kyle Dubas and the front office will have a busy offseason as they balance what to do with their first-round pick while finding the franchise’s next head coach. Obviously, who the Penguins will pick at No. 11 will depend on how the top 10 plays out, but multiple NHL experts offered their quick projection following Monday’s lottery. Here is who they had the Pens taking in the first round.

Josh Yohe, The Athletic: LHD Jackson Smith (Tri-City, WHL)
James Dator, SB Nation: C Brady Martin, (Soo, OHL)
Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet: C Brady Martin
Steve Ellis, Daily Faceoff: LHD Kashawn Aitcheson, (Barrie Colts, OHL)
Chris Martin, Flo Hockey: RW Victor Eklund, (Djugårdens)
Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: D Jackson Smith
Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com: C Brady Martin

Dubas acknowledged the Penguins’ need to upgrade at the left side of the blue line, which was why Smith was chosen by Yohe and Kimelman.

“As the Penguins look to transition to younger, more athletic players up and down the lineup, Smith could be the right player for them in this spot,” Kimelman wrote. “The left-shot defenseman has NHL-ready size (6-3, 195), skates well enough to be a one-man breakout and can make a smart first pass out of the zone. Smith, who turns 18 on May 13, had 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists) in 68 games this season.”

A common theme for the Martin pick for the three experts is that the forward is someone who could help the team right away and help them reach their goal of making the playoffs.

“Martin brings a lot to the table at center to like. While he might not project to reach the heights of being an elite, top-line center — there’s also not a massive risk here that could be a whiff,” Dator wrote. “Martin has an NHL-ready game, and could easily slot into being a reliable third-line player for a long time.”

Pittsburgh’s draft decision likely will be dictated by who it hires as head coach and its goals for next season. But the 2025 NHL Draft will present a good opportunity for the Penguins to continue to build their young corps and possibly help them out in the short term, too.