Penguins to Select 22nd Overall in 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center
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The host Pittsburgh Penguins will have seven selections – including the 22nd overall pick in the first round – at the 2012 NHL Draft, which will be held Friday and Saturday at CONSOL Energy Center.
Round 1 will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and will be nationally televised by NBC Sports Network. The NHL Network will carry Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, with coverage beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
Along with their first-round pick, the Penguins have single picks in the second round (52nd overall), third round (83rd), fifth round (143rd) and sixth round (173rd), and two picks in the fourth round (92nd, 113th).
Pittsburgh acquired the 92nd pick – the first pick of the fourth round – from Columbus on Nov. 8 in exchange for center Mark Letestu.
Last month the Penguins dealt their seventh-round selection (203rd) to the Washington Capitals for the rights to goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who then signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh.
Recent notable NHL players who have been selected with the 22nd-overall pick include Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux (2006), Montreal’s Max Pacioretty (’07) and Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle (’08).
Pittsburgh’s run of six-straight playoff appearances – the second-longest stretch in franchise history – has been fueled in large part because of the Penguins’ success on draft day. This year, 14 players drafted by the Penguins played for the team at some point during the regular season. That number includes six former first-round picks all playing significant roles.
Former first-round picks who played for the Penguins in 2011-12 were Brooks Orpik (2000, 18th overall), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003, 1st), Evgeni Malkin (2004, 2nd), Sidney Crosby (2005, 1st), Jordan Staal (2006, 2nd) and Simon Despres (2009, 30th).
Other Pittsburgh draft picks to see NHL action this year included Richard Park (1994, 2nd), Tyler Kennedy (2004, 99th), Kris Letang (2005, 62nd), Joe Vitale (2005, 195th), Carl Sneep (2006, 32nd), Brian Strait (2006, 65th), Robert Bortuzzo (2007, 78th) and Dustin Jeffrey (2007, 171st).
Here is a look at the Penguins last 10 first-round picks:
| Year | Name | Position | Selection |
| 2011 | Joe Morrow | D | 23 |
| 2010 | Beau Bennett | RW | 20 |
| 2009 | Simon Despres | D | 30 |
| 2008 | (Traded to Atlanta) | - | - |
| 2007 | Angelo Esposito | C | 20 |
| 2006 | Jordan Staal | C | 2 |
| 2005 | Sidney Crosby | C | 1 |
| 2004 | Evgeni Malkin | C | 2 |
| 2003 | Marc-Andre Fleury | G | 1 |
| 2002 | Ryan Whitney | D | 5 |
Here is a look at some other notable draft picks in Penguins history:
| Year | Name | Position | Selection |
| 1969 | Michel Briere | C | 26 |
| 1972 | Denis Herron | G | 40 |
| 1977 | Mark Johnson | C | 66 |
| 1984 | Mario Lemieux | C | 1 |
| 1986 | Rob Brown | C | 67 |
| 1986 | Rob Scuderi | D | 134 |
| 1987 | Shawn McEachern | C | 110 |
| 1988 | Mark Recchi | RW | 67 |
| 1990 | Jaromir Jagr | RW | 5 |
| 1991 | Markus Naslund | LW | 16 |
| 1992 | Martin Straka | C | 19 |
| 1993 | Patrick Lalime | G | 156 |
| 1998 | Rob Scuderi | D | 134 |
| 1999 | Ryan Malone | LW | 115 |
| 2000 | Brooks Orpik | D | 18 |
