The 1972 NHL Amateur Draft was held on Thursday, June 8, 1972 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The expansion Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks made the first two picks with Buffalo winning a "wheel of fortune" spin for the first choice held on June 9, 1970. The remaining draft order was determined by the 1969-70 NHL standings with the teams drafting in reverse order of their finish. The Montreal Canadiens, who had the option to take the first two French-Canadian players in the draft in lieu of their regular picks, chose first and second overall, taking goaltender Michel Plasse of Drumondville (QJHL) and center Roger Belisle of Montreal North (Quebec Int.), respectively.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 64 points in 1969-70, would draft seventh overall out of 14 teams in each round. Pittsburgh made nine selections - one in each round - in the 13-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the 10th to 13th rounds.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 64 points in 1969-70, would draft seventh overall out of 14 teams in each round. Pittsburgh made nine selections - one in each round - in the 13-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the 10th to 13th rounds.
1972 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Amateur Draft Selections
Choice | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Position | 1971-72 Amateur Club |
1 | 2 | 8 | 24 | Jack Lynch | D | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
2 | 2 | 14 | 30 | Bernie Lukowich | RW | New Westminster Royals (WCHL) |
3 | 3 | 8 | 40 | Denis Herron | G | Trois-Rivieres Ducs (QHL) |
4 | 4 | 8 | 56 | Ron Lalonde | C | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
5 | 5 | 8 | 72 | Brian Walker | C | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
6 | 6 | 8 | 88 | Jeff Ablett | LW | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
7 | 7 | 8 | 104 | D'Arcy Keating | D | University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (WCHA) |
8 | 8 | 8 | 120 | Yves Bergeron | RW | Shawinigan Bruins (QHL) |
9 | 9 | 8 | 136 | Jay Babcock | LW | London Knights (OHA) |
10 | 10 | 6 | 149 | Don Atchison | G | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |