Penguins risk handing 1st overall pick to Oilers by missing playoffs

The Pittsburgh Penguins will miss out on a lot more than a shot at the Stanley Cup should they somehow fail to qualify for the playoffs.

Earlier this season, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford pulled the trigger on a deal that saw his club send a 2015 first-round draft pick to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for winger David Perron.

Clearly, the belief was the pick would fall somewhere in the 15-30 range.

What does this mean? Well, should the Penguins finish the season as a lottery team, and if by some small chance they end up being awarded the first overall pick, it will indeed be the Oilers who reap the benefits and have the opportunity to call Connor McDavid's name on draft day.

Talk about putting a bucketful of salt on what would already be a very open and raw wound.

As such, Rutherford is no doubt hoping Perron improves upon his 12 goals in 40 games over the course of the club's three remaining contests.