First-round picks: No. 21
2000-01 record: 42-28-9-3, 96 points (9th overall)
What they need
The Penguins are blessed with two top-flight forward lines, but there's is a dropoff in talent after that. In addition, the club does not possess a solid, puck-rushing defenseman. In between the pipes, question marks abound, despite the addition of Johan Hedberg late last season.
In the system
At forward, the Penguins are banking their future on the tall frame of 6-foot-3, 202-pound center Milan Kraft (23rd overall in '98). Kraft appeared in 42 games for the Penguins last season, notching seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. After Kraft, the Pens are hoping Konstantin Koltsov (18th overall in '99) can bring some offense to the table one day soon. The right wing was drafted out of the Russian League. Right wing Robert Dome (17th overall in '97), is not being counted out of the equation yet, though he has spent tha majority of the last four seasons playing in the minor leagues.
On defense, the Penguis may have a playmaker in Boston College product, Brooks Orpik (18th overall last year). However, he may need another year or two of seasoning before he's ready for the NHL. On the goaltending front, a pair of major junior products stand out. Sebastien Caron (86th overall in '99 out of the Quebec Major Junior League) and Scott Myers (110th overall in '98 out of the Western League) will both get a long look in training camp this September.
Recent draft history
The Penguins tend to draft with offense in mind. Eight of their last 11 first round picks have been used on forwards. Pittsburgh's early rounds have had an international flavor over recent years. Orpik was the first North American-born player taken by the Pens in the first round last year since netminder Craig Hillier was selected 23rd overall in 1996.
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