PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins aren't likely to trade the No. 2 pick in next week's NHL draft, general manager Craig Patrick said Thursday.

The Penguins finished with the league's worst record, but lost the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery to the Washington Capitals.

"There's always dialogue going on and we'll listen to whatever is out there if it makes sense," Patrick said. "Every draft people call and want to know what your mood is and what your tendencies might be. But the likelihood of us making a trade, well, we like where we are."

Unless the Capitals go against conventional wisdom, they will select Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin, a left wing envisioned as a franchise player.

"I'm not assuming anything because I've been around this game a little bit and I think all the drafts are unpredictable," Pittsburgh scout Greg Malone said. "I think there's some obvious choices out there, but maybe somebody will come along and offer Washington a good package and maybe they won't take the kid."

If Washington takes Ovechkin, the Penguins are expected to choose Evgeni Malkin, a 6-foot-3, 186-pound center from Magnitogorsk of the Russian Elite League. Ovechkin recently told reporters at the Stanley Cup finals that Malkin is an unselfish, physical player who should quickly make it to the NHL.

Ovechkin and Malkin played together last winter on Russia's junior national team.

"I think if you look at past years, both of these kids would be rated as highly in any draft because of their ability and talent," Malone said. "The gap might have closed a little bit, but in my mind there's one guy out there who's very special and another guy who's pretty special, too."