Pens acquire another struggling former first-round pick

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Looking for some sort of spark, the Pens brought in another former first-round pick who hasn’t performed consistently at the NHL level and made a deal with Nashville.

On Monday, the Pens traded a 2027 fourth-round pick for forward Philip Tomasino, a 24th overall pick by the Predators in 2019. In 159 career NHL games, the 23-year-old has 23 goals and 48 assists. He averaged nearly a point per game in the AHL with 36 goals and 46 assists in 89 games.

Tomasino showed promise in his 2021/22 rookie season, scoring 11 goals and 21 assists in 76 games. The right-hander then scored 18 points in 31 games, then 20 points in 41 games and has one assist in 11 games this year, averaging 11:18 minutes with three blocks, 10 hits, two takeaways and eight giveaways. He will be a free agent after the season.

More former first-round picks this season
· Islanders 2015 first round pick Anthony Beauvillier15 games for Nashville last year. Beauvillier has played a bit on Sidney Crosby’s line with nine points in 23 games.
· Vancouver 2017 first-round pick (6th overall) Cody Glassanother 2023-24 Nashville player, had 13 points in 41 games and no goals and four assists in 14 games with the Pens this season.

The Pens host San Jose on Wednesday, currently in last place in the Metropolitan Division, with a 12-point lead and a league-worst 34-goal margin.