Pens Points: Bad Bounce

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08/05/2024 12:00

Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images

Penguins don't get the lucky bounce in the draft lottery and Pens Points will tell you all about it.

There appears to be no grand scheme by the NHL to help boost the Pittsburgh Penguins rebuild as the team failed to improve on their draft position in the NHL lottery. The Penguins began the night with the 14th best odds in the lottery but stayed right at home in the 14th slot, and will transferring the pick to the San Jose Sharks to complete the Erik Karlsson trade. [Trib Live]

Pens Points...

From rival to friend, Lars Eller came to Pittsburgh as a free agent last summer and did exactly what he was asked to do with the role he was given. [Trib Live]

For better or for worse, Mike Sullivan is likely to be the Penguins head coach heading into next season, a testament to his loyalty to the Penguins core, something often times missing in today's sporting world. [The Athletic $$]

Raivis Ansons becomes the latest member of the Penguins organization to be selected to participate in the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Czechia where Ansons will represent his native Latvia. [Trib Live]

A quarter of a century since Jaromir Jagr claimed dominance over the sport of hockey with a career high 127 point season and league MVP, Jagr still remains a revered figure in the game today and still active on the ice. [The Hockey News]

Brayden Yager has been lighting up the WHL playoffs with 20 points in 15 games, including six points in the conference final round as Yager looks to lead the Moose Jaw Worriors to its first ever WHL championship. [The Hockey News]

NHL News and Notes...

Having the worst record in hockey this season paid off in a big way for the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night when they won the NHL draft lottery and will pick No. 1 overall where they will almost certainly select Macklin Celebrini. [NHL]

It will be Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid vying for MVP honors as Hart Trophy finalists in what could be one of the tightest votes in award history when the winner is announced next month. [ESPN]