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Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Pittsburgh Penguins
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First Round Picks: No. 18
1999-2000 Record: 37-37-8 (6), 88 points (Tied for 13th overall)
What they need
The Pens, a team with scoring forwards and physical forwards, could use some players who can
do both on the front line. A skilled center would also help, since most of Pittsburgh's most skilled players are on the
wings. Goaltending could be an issue as well if unrestricted free agent Ron Tugnutt signs elsewhere.
In their system
Six-foot-three, 202-pound center Milan Kraft (23rd overall in '98) is considered the cream of the
Pens' prospect crop. In 56 games this season at Prince Albert (WHL), Kraft had 34 goals and 69 points. He also parti-
cipated in the World Junior Championships, scoring the winning goal in a shootout for the Czech Republic in the title game.
On the flip side, right wing Robert Dome (17th overall in '97), may be regressing. In 51 games at Wilkes-Barre/
Scranton (AHL), he had 12 goals and 38 points.
On defense, Andrew Ference (208th overall in '97) had a solid year at
Wilkes-Barre (28 pts. & 58 PIM's in 44 games), as did fellow rearguard Josef Melichar (71st overall in '97, 12 pts. &
126 PIM in 80 games).
On the goaltending front, a pair of major junior netminders stood out. Sebastien Caron (86th
overall in '99) went 38-11-3 with a 3.53 GAA in 54 games for Memorial Cup Champion Rimouski (QMJHL), while
Scott Myers (110th overall in '98) was 30-15-3 with a 2.85 GAA in 49 games for Prince George (WHL).
Recent draft history
The Penguins tend to draft with offense in mind. Eight of their last 10 first round
picks have been used to take a forward. Pittsburgh also seems to like an international flavor to their draft. Eight of their last 10 first rounders have also been European-born players (though Robert Dome was playing in the IHL when he was selected), including Jaromir Jagr at No. 5 in 1990.
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FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS (LAST FIVE YEARS)
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| YEAR |
PICK |
PLAYER |
POS. |
'99 TEAM |
'99 G-A-Pts |
| 1999 |
18 |
Konstantin Koltsov |
RW |
Metallurg (Rus) |
3-4-7 |
| 1998 |
23 |
Milan Kraft |
C |
Prince Albert (WHL) |
34-35-69 |
| 1997 |
17 |
Robert Dome |
RW |
WB/Scranton (AHL) |
12-26-38 |
| 1996 |
23 |
Craig Hiller |
G |
WB/Scranton (AHL) |
1-6-2, 4.15 |
| 1995 |
24 |
Alexei Morozov |
RW |
Pittsburgh (NHL) |
12-19-31 |
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ALSO SEE
Penguins' first-round history
Team needs: New Jersey Devils
Team Needs: New York Islanders
Team needs: New York Rangers
Team needs: Philadelphia Flyers
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