Welcome to Stats ‘N’ At, a weekly feature that takes a deep dive into the numbers that define our city's sports scene.
In a successful quest for Stanley Cups, the Penguins have traded away top draft picks and well-regarded prospects. They have the ninth-oldest roster in the NHL (average age: 28.3), and their current and future hopes of winning a sixth title are inextricably tied to a core of early-30s superstars. Yet, for all of the concern over the cupboard running bare, the Penguins have proven to be adept at discovering and developing underrated talent--from low-round selections, to undrafted free agents, to international signings.
There might not be a better example of their scouting and development success than Jake Guentzel, a 2013 third-round pick who emerged as a playoff hero before progressing into a regular-season star worthy of playing on Sidney Crosby's line and signing a five-year, $30 million contact extension.
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