BLUE LINE
The Right Choices

The Penguins have had a stellar decade when it comes to selecting their first round draft picks. After taking Marty Straka with the 19th pick in 1992, the Pens stumbled through the remainder of the nineties, with only '95 pick Alexei Morozov having any real NHL success Remember Stefan Bergqvist? Craig Hillier? Konstantin Koltsov?.

Things changed in 2000, however, as every top pick this decade made a huge impact on the Pens' 2007-08 Stanley Cup run.

2000: Brooks Orpik, D, Boston College
One of the Penguins' most defensively sound blue-liners; provides a physical presence.

2001: Colby Armstrong, RW, Red Deer
One of the team's top nine forwards before being sent to Atlanta in the trade that brought Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens.

2002: Ryan Whitney, D, Boston University
Just 25 and already one of the top offensive defenseman in the East; signed a contract extension last off-season.

2003: Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Cape Breton
Joined Tom Barrasso as the only Pens' goalie to win 40 games in a season in '06-07; has now has joined Barasso as the only goaltenders to lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

2004: Evgeni Malkin, C, Magnitogorsk
Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year in '06-07; this year finished second in scoring race and is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

2005: Sidney Crosby, C, Rimouski
Led the NHL in playoff scoring entering the Finals and already has Art Ross and Hart trophies to his name in just three seasons.

2006: Jordan Staal, C, Peterborough
Shocked everyone by not only making the team as a rookie by also by scoring 29 goals. Has developed into one of the top two-way centers in the Eastern Conference in just two seasons.

2007: Angelo Esposito, C, Quebec
High-scoring prospect was cornerstone of the deadline deal for Hossa and Dupuis; scored 69 points and career high 30 goals in juniors this season.