Evaluating the Penguins Through Kyle Dubas' Eyes

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Kuljit Parmar

With the 2023 NHL Draft approaching fast, I’m going to take my best guess as to what the game plan is for President of Hockey Operations and temporary General Manager Kyle Dubas. What does he have in store for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in terms of roster changes?

So far, he has signed two depth players to one-year contracts, which will not affect his cap space. Rightfully so, working according to his plan that would be to retool the line-up, and he has a couple of options to work with following that blueprint.

If I were to guess what his moves might be, including their first round pick at 14, I would indeed say he may go in the direction he left off with the Toronto Maple Leafs – and focus his attention on the defensive core.

One possibility might involve selecting a defenseman that would evolve within two years in the farm-team stage, however, the temporary GM Kyle Dubas has been known to trade away a first-round pick for more of a win-now mentality and go all-in type of trades.

His first order of business will be fixing the roster as it was badly out of shape last year when the team failed to make it to the playoffs, missing the postseason for the first time in 16 years.

Who would he trade the first pick for, you may ask? 

The first guess would be indeed acquiring goaltender Conner Hellybyuck to fix the depleted goaltending the team has been dealt with. Tristan Jarry is questionable in the playoffs, and Casey DeSmith was overworked last year. I’m not sure how much blame can be put on Casey, given that he wasn’t expected to handle a starters’ workload.

If I were the GM, I would not sign Tristan Jarry and let him test the free agency market, while signing goaltender Hellybyuck to a long-term deal, with DeSmith backing him up.

I would try my best to keep forward Jason Zucker for at least another year, and then see at the trade deadline if he is a good trade chip. I would also keep fourth-line forward Josh Archibald and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for depth purposes.

With Kulikov being primed for more of a long-term solution to the defense’s core and depth play.

Brian Dumoulin, I would attempt a sign-and-trade with a team like Washington
Capitals, or the Philadelphia Flyers, who are also working on a potential rebuild around their stars.

Letting the rest of the free agents walk might make somewhat of a difference, according to their contracts, but it will help positively reshape the roster, and give Kyle Dubas more breathing room to work with.

Trading away a contract or two might be an option as well, but determining the players to be traded will have to be sorted out, because of contract obligations the team made prior to the Kyle Dubas era.

In short, nobody is going to want Jeff Carter.

Thus my Yinzers, we are in the dawn of a new era. Let's enjoy the beginning this summer, as well as the draft tonight!