Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Penguins are shifting their focus from asset collection to execution as they aim to return to contention in the NHL. Over the past year, Kyle Dubas, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, along with his staff, have been accumulating assets, cap space, and flexibility. This strategy reached a peak during the recent NHL trade deadline.

In a series of moves, the Penguins acquired several draft picks: a 2028 fifth-round pick from San Jose for Vincent Desharnais; defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak from Nashville in exchange for Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick; then trading Schenn to Winnipeg for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick; acquiring a 2025 second-round pick from Washington for Anthony Beauvillier; Chase Stillman, Max Graham, and a 2027 third-round pick from New Jersey in exchange for Cody Glass and Jonathan Gruden; finally acquiring Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar from Toronto for a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Dubas emphasized that Pittsburgh now holds more draft picks than any other team over the next three NHL Drafts. “Triples of the third (round) of (2025), triples of the second (round) in (2026) and triples again of the third (round) of (2027). Triples is best,” Dubas remarked.

With these assets secured, Dubas stated that the team would begin executing strategies aimed at enhancing their competitive edge. He noted that not all draft picks would be used immediately but could be leveraged in trades if beneficial opportunities arise. “If there are opportunities to use the excess capital that we’ve accumulated...we won’t hesitate to do that,” he said.

Dubas also acknowledged fans' expectations in Pittsburgh regarding quick results but urged patience as they work towards building around core players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. He assured efforts are ongoing to give these players another chance at success during their current contracts.

“We're going to survey the landscape as urgently as we can each day," Dubas stated about potential moves. If no immediate opportunities present themselves, he plans to rely on personnel staff like Andy Saucier and Wes Clark to bring young talent into the organization.

Addressing player performance expectations for this season's remainder, Dubas highlighted opportunities available for players on short-term deals or those aspiring for league permanence. "There’s a massive amount of opportunities...to assert themselves," he mentioned.

Dubas specifically addressed key players amid trade rumors:

- RICKARD RAKELL: "He is a big part of our program...we’re happy to have him."

- MATT GRZELCYK: “There was interest...but he remains a member of our team.”

- ERIK KARLSSON: "He's such a talented player...he's not a player that we would look to just move along."

The Penguins aim not only at immediate improvement but also at maintaining high standards within their organization moving forward.