The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the ninth-worst record in the NHL and were slated to be drafted 9th overall at the 2025 Draft, but dropped two spots after the New York Islanders and Utah Hockey Club moved up. 

Interestingly, 2025 will mark the second time in franchise history that Pittsburgh has selected 11th overall. For those wondering when the first time was, we have to go back to the club's initial draft in 1967, where the Penguins had two picks, Steve Rexe (second overall) and Bob Smith (11th overall). 

Out of the 18 picks in the 1967 Amateur Draft, only three made it to the NHL, including Serge Bernier (Philadelphia Flyers - 5th overall), Bob Kelly (Toronto Maple Leafs - 16th overall), and Al Karlander (Detroit Red Wings - 17th overall). 

Ultimately, this leads us back to Smith. Who was he, and how far did he make it in professional hockey? Let's dig into the numbers and find out what happened to the only player the Penguins have ever drafted at 11th overall.

Who is Bob Smith, the 11th overall pick in the 1967 Amateur Draft?

Smith was born in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, on Dec. 1, 1946. As a local kid, he played junior hockey with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds in the NOJHL from 1963 to 1967. 

He had 27 points in 19 games as a rookie, almost tripling his production as an 18-year-old for the 1964-65 season, thanks to 44 goals and 44 assists, which netted him 88 points. 

During his third campaign, Smith outperformed his previous totals by two, scoring 46 goals and collecting 46 assists for 92 points in 40 games. Moreover, he set a career high in penalty minutes that season, sitting in the box for 50.

Penguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th OverallIn past draft lotteries, the

Heading into his final junior season, Smith cracked 100 points for the only time, scoring 48 goals and 52 assists to reach 100 points. 

The Penguins saw something in Smith and drafted him as the 11th overall pick at the 1967 Amateur Draft on June 7, 1967. 

However, Smith never made it to the NHL. Instead, he played his entire professional career in the IHL with the Muskegon Mohawks from 1967 to 1972, winning the Turner Cup in 1968.

As a 21-year-old, Smith made his IHL debut in 1967 and scored 26 goals and 60 points. He followed that up with 38 goals and 82 points in his second season. Meanwhile, he played just three games in 1968-69 for the Amarillo Wranglers in the CenHL, registering no points. 

Unfortunately, Smith didn't play much of the 1969-70 season, scoring a point-per-game with seven goals and six assists in just 13 games. Yet, he bounced back with another 28-goal season the following year to finish the 1970-71 campaign with 67 points.

Finally, Smith's professional career ended following the 1971-72 season, during which he tallied 33 goals and a personal best 84 points in 61 games while collecting only nine penalty minutes. 

Overall, Smith averaged 2.22 points-per-game in junior hockey, thanks to 152 goals and 155 assists for 307 points in 138 games, while his professional totals were just as impressive at 1.10 points-per-game, with 132 goals, 174 assists, and 306 points in 277 games. 

EDMONTON – Some people just can’t stay away.

Often, when an NHL player retires, they move in to another aspect of hockey.

Edmonton Oilers fans are more than familiar with this concept. Wayne Gretzky went on to be an NHL head coach, Kevin Lowe was the GM of the Oilers at one point, and Paul Coffey currently serves on Kris Knoblauch’s coaching staff.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

But former Oilers forward Pat Maroon appears to be going the route of Oilers legend Mark Messier.

It was announced on Wednesday morning that the NHL on TNT broadcast would be gaining a few special guests in the next week. 

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Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet will join the broadcast for Friday and Saturday’s slate of games. Maroon will join for Monday’s games.

Considering how Maroon has been in interviews and media scrums, it’s not surprising that he would be drawn to broadcasting. Additionally, Monday is an interesting day to hop aboard.

COACH TOCC AND THE BIG RIG 🍿

Excited to be welcoming a new guest (and an old friend) to the desk this weekend 📺 pic.twitter.com/oXjGJL5XHh

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 7, 2025

There are two games slated for Monday. Game 4 of the Washington Capitals series against the Carolina Hurricanes and Game 4 between the Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.

Maroon announced his retirement from hockey in the past month. He had a long career and played with many NHL teams. In 848 career games he recorded 323 points and 1087 penalty minutes.

Maroon’s most successful offensive season came while with the Oilers. In the 2016-17 season, he recorded a 27-goal, 42-point season while playing 16:44 a game.

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