As the quiet offseason unfolds, the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, along with its dedicated fanbase, often reflects on past seasons and, perhaps more intriguingly, the journeys of their former draft classes. Following a recent revisit to their 2016 selections, curiosity now turns to the 2017 NHL Draft class, an intriguing group of prospects whose careers have taken diverse and often unexpected turns since their draft day.
One of the most poignant stories from the 2017 NHL Draft involves Zachary Lauzon, whose lifelong dream of playing in the NHL was tragically cut short. Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, Lauzon suffered a severe concussion just two months prior to the draft during the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs. This injury proved to be a significant setback for the highly-touted defenseman, who had boasted an impressive plus-66 rating over three seasons.
Despite repeated attempts to return to the ice during the 2017-18 season, Lauzon was only able to play 25 games due to lingering health issues. Although the Penguins eventually relinquished his rights amidst the uncertainty, they extended an invitation to their development camp in June 2019. However, within a few months, reports surfaced of recurring headaches and dizziness, leading Lauzon to make the difficult but necessary decision to prioritize his health and retire from professional hockey. Remarkably, five years after his retirement announcement, he made a brief return, playing one game in a senior league.
Another notable selection from the 2017 NHL Draft was smooth-skating defenseman Clayton Phillips, chosen by the Penguins in the third round. Phillips was initially identified for his offensive mindset, a trait he showcased throughout his high school career and his first season in the United States Hockey League. After being drafted, his journey began with stints in the USHL, splitting the 2017-18 season between the Fargo Force and the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Phillips then transitioned to collegiate hockey, attending the University of Minnesota for a season and a half before moving to Penn State. His professional aspirations led him to sign an amateur tryout contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (WBS) in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played a single game at the end of the 2021-22 season. His professional hockey career concluded after playing parts of the 2022-23 season in the ECHL with the Savannah Ghost Pirates and Iowa Heartlanders.
In contrast to some of his draft peers, Jan Drozg, a later-round pick, has found considerable success in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) over the last three seasons. Since the 2022-23 campaign, Drozg has been a consistent presence, playing 112 games for Amur Khabarovsk and 33 games for Kunlun Red Star. His future for the 2025-26 season remains uncertain, with no official announcement regarding his re-signing with Red Star, underscoring the dynamic nature of overseas hockey careers.
Niclas Olund, drafted in the fifth round, was highly regarded as a skilled two-way player capable of contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. After performing well in his home country of Sweden, Olund made the leap to North American professional hockey, playing 61 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the 2018-19 season, where he tallied nine assists and 15 points. This, however, would be his sole season in the AHL, as he was subsequently loaned back to Sweden, where he has since solidified a long-term career with Brynas IF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), entering his 11th season with the club.
The trajectories of NHL prospects are notoriously unpredictable in such a fiercely competitive league. While top-tier prospects often fulfill their potential, many others, like Zachary Lauzon, face unforeseen circumstances that unfortunately force premature retirements or hinder their development. Examining the diverse paths of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2017 NHL Draft class offers valuable insights into the complexities of player development and the critical role of the scouting department in identifying future talent, sometimes hitting the nail on the head, and other times navigating unforeseen challenges.
