Kyle Dubas, the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has a clear vision for the future of the team. He envisions a balanced squad featuring the veteran leadership of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, while also incorporating a new wave of young talent from a revitalized prospect pool. The ultimate goal is to return to Stanley Cup contention, but Dubas refuses to set a fixed timeline, focusing instead on building a competitive team in line with the current roster’s leadership and legacy.
Focus on Urgency Without a Fixed Timeline
Dubas expressed his belief in the importance of acting urgently, but without adhering to a specific timeline. He emphasized that the focus should be on the types of players the Penguins have, and their significance to both the team and the city.
According to Dubas, the priority is to build a competitive squad and avoid rushing the process, as doing so could undermine the development of young talent. The team’s strategy is to acquire assets and either develop them or use them in the pursuit of impactful players when available.
In a notable move on Friday, the Penguins made a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, acquiring a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, along with forward Melvin Fernstrom, Danton Heinen, and defenseman Vincent Desharnais. This was in exchange for defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor.
Heinen and Desharnais were already on the ice for the Penguins in a game against the Nashville Predators, marking an immediate contribution from the new additions. These trades are part of Dubas’ efforts to both retool the roster and bring in youth to complement the experienced core.
Strengthening the Prospect Pool
Along with these acquisitions, the Penguins made another significant move in August by trading for Rutger McGroarty, a first-round pick in 2022. McGroarty was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brayden Yager, a 2023 first-round pick. McGroarty was briefly in the NHL before being reassigned to the AHL, where he will continue his development.
Dubas’ strategy is clear: to use these assets either to build a competitive team quickly or to trade them for proven players who can make an immediate impact.
Despite these efforts, the Penguins are currently struggling. They’ve had a difficult start to the season, sitting near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and failing to secure a playoff spot in the previous season. Coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged that while the team is trying to build a younger roster, the expectation is still to compete at a high level and fight for a playoff position.
The team has learned from last year’s mistakes, and with young players coming up from the AHL, the hope is to gain momentum as they move into the critical months of February, March, and April. The Penguins remain focused on maximizing their current roster’s potential and competing for a postseason berth.