Madden Monday: 'The Penguins are a better franchise than the Steelers now. In terms of the way they are run, they are No. 1.'

When it comes to the NHL’s looming trade deadline (March 21), the Penguins find themselves in a familiar position.

Do they trade this summer’s first-round draft choice in order to acquire a top-flight player to help this year’s team? Since 2013, the Penguins have only drafted in the first round twice, Kasperi Kapanen (2014) and Samuel Poulin (2019).

The strategy hasn’t caught up to the Penguins yet as they’ve made the playoffs every season since 2007 and have won three Stanley Cups in that time. However, at some point, the Penguins are going to want to stock the pipeline with some high-end prospects.

A winger capable of being on the second line sure could help, though, right?

TribLIVE columnist and 105.9 The X host Mark Madden admits that he has wrestled with himself to form an opinion as to whether or not the Penguins should deal their first-round pick yet again. But in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Madden insists that now he has made up his mind that the franchise would be best served holding onto the pick.

“I wouldn’t trade the first-round pick,” Madden said. “I’ve been going back and forth on that all the time and may yet change my mind again. But you aren’t going to get much for that pick. You aren’t going to get (Vancouver Canucks forward) J.T. Miller. Somebody is going to come in with a much bigger offer.”

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Madden said there is a level of reality that Penguins fans may need to accept as they look at this team, even though the club is currently tied with the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

“While I think the Penguins can beat anybody in a series, I don’t think that they can beat everybody in a series,” Madden explained. “I just don’t feel like they are going to win a Stanley Cup, to be perfectly honest. So, I don’t trade the first-round pick, no.”

That said, Madden insisted the Penguins are currently the top dog in town when it comes to local sports franchises, especially with the struggles of the Steelers.

“The Penguins are a better franchise than the Steelers now,” Madden said. “If you want to say that football is more popular, go ahead. But the Penguins should get their due right now. Crosby, Malkin, the superstars, the franchise’s current reputation and standing. They are the No. 1 franchise in town right now. They may not be the most popular. But in terms of the way they are run, they are No. 1.”

And, no, he doesn’t see the potential acquisition of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers changing that.

“They are not going to win a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers and that’s the only reason to get him,” Madden said. “They are not good enough. They are nowhere close. They haven’t won a playoff game in five years, and suddenly some 38-year-old guy is going to come in — MVP though he may be — and they are going to win a Super Bowl? I don’t think so.”

Also during this week’s podcast, Mark and I focus on an offensive lineman the Steelers might sign, the final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium for Mike Krzyzewski and a difficult week of upcoming games for the Penguins.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden talk Penguins, Steelers, college basketball