Markus Naslund
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on Saturday, June 22, 1991 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. West Division teams drafted in reverse order of their 1968-69 finish in the standings, while East Division teams reverted back to the rotating draft order from 1967 while accounting for 1968 with teams moving up two positions each. 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 right wing Rejean Houle and left wing Marc Tardif both of Montreal (OHA), respectively.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 51 points (20 wins) in 1968-69 - tied with Minnesota (18 wins), would draft second overall out of 12 teams in each round. On May 21, 1968, Pittsburgh traded its first round choice in the 1969 Amateur Draft (Frank Spring, RW, Edmonton) to Boston for Jean Pronovost and John Arbour. The Penguins traded their seventh round choice (Bob Collyard, C, Colorado College) to St. Louis for cash. They also traded their eighth round choice (Frank Hamill, RW, Toronto) to Montreal for cash. This would leave Pittsburgh with five selections in the 10-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the ninth and tenth rounds.
Pittsburgh selected center Rick Kessell from Oshawa (OHA Jr.) in the second round with the 15th overall pick. Kessel played in parts of four season with the Penguins from 1969-70 to 1972-73 and made his NHL debut on March 21, 1970 vs. Chicago and scored his first NHL goal in the game. Kessell played the 1973-74 season with the California Golden Seals and finished his NHL career with 135 games played including 84 with Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 51 points (20 wins) in 1968-69 - tied with Minnesota (18 wins), would draft second overall out of 12 teams in each round. On May 21, 1968, Pittsburgh traded its first round choice in the 1969 Amateur Draft (Frank Spring, RW, Edmonton) to Boston for Jean Pronovost and John Arbour. The Penguins traded their seventh round choice (Bob Collyard, C, Colorado College) to St. Louis for cash. They also traded their eighth round choice (Frank Hamill, RW, Toronto) to Montreal for cash. This would leave Pittsburgh with five selections in the 10-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the ninth and tenth rounds.
Pittsburgh selected center Rick Kessell from Oshawa (OHA Jr.) in the second round with the 15th overall pick. Kessel played in parts of four season with the Penguins from 1969-70 to 1972-73 and made his NHL debut on March 21, 1970 vs. Chicago and scored his first NHL goal in the game. Kessell played the 1973-74 season with the California Golden Seals and finished his NHL career with 135 games played including 84 with Pittsburgh.
1991 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Entry Draft Selections
| Choice | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Position | 1990-91 Amateur Club |
| 1 | 1 | 16 | 16 | Markus Naslund | LW | Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik (Swedish Elite League) |
| 2 | 2 | 16 | 38 | Rusty Fitzgerald | C | Duluth East (Minnesota) High School |
| 3 | 3 | 16 | 60 | Shane Peacock | D | Lethbridge Hurricanes(WHL) |
| 4 | 4 | 16 | 82 | Joe Tamminen | C | Virginia (Minnesota) High School |
| 5 | 5 | 16 | 104 | Robert Melanson | D | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 6 | 16 | 126 | Brian Clifford | C | Nichols Academy |
| 7 | 7 | 16 | 148 | Eddie Patterson | RW | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 8 | 8 | 16 | 170 | Peter McLaughlin | LW/D | Belmont Hill (Massachusetts) High School |
| 9 | 9 | 16 | 192 | Jeff Lembke | G | Omaha Lancers (USHL) |
| 10 | 10 | 16 | 214 | Chris Tok | D | Greenway (Minnesota) High School |
| 11 | 11 | 16 | 236 | Paul Dyck | D | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 12 | 12 | 16 | 258 | Pasi Huura | D | Ilves Tampere (Finland-SM Liiga) |
