Quick playoff exit gives the Penguins a chance at top prospect Alexis Lafreniere

The Penguins’ season-ending 2-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their qualifying round series in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena brought clarity to one of the conditional transactions they made prior to February’s trade deadline.

And it introduced plenty of intrigue to another.

The conditional draft pick they dealt to the San Jose Sharks for forward Patrick Marleau on Feb. 24 will remain a third-round draft selection in the 2021 draft. Had the Penguins won the Stanley Cup this postseason, that draft pick would have upgraded to a second-rounder.

The draft pick they sent to the Minnesota Wild for forward Jason Zucker on Feb. 11 remains unresolved.

The bundle of assets the Penguins sent to Minnesota included a first-round pick in either 2020 or 2021. Per the original conditions of the transaction, the Penguins had the option of determining which year that pick would be if they missed the playoffs. After the NHL reconfigured its postseason format and the draft lottery format due its hiatus resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the Penguins now have a 12.5% chance of landing the top overall selection in this year’s draft.

The NHL will hold Phase 2 of the draft lottery at 6 p.m. Monday and will determine the selection order for the top overall pick as well as selections nine through 15.

Following Monday, the Penguins will have seven days to determine if they will retain this year’s pick and instead send their 2021 first-rounder to the Wild.

Forward Alexis Lafreniere, a forward with the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is considered the favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall. The draft is scheduled to be held Oct. 9-10 and will be staged remotely.

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