The Pittsburgh Penguins’ summer plans may not be dead so much as delayed.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic painted a picture of a front office that went into the offseason aiming high, only to come up short on the kind of deal that would have changed the shape of the roster. The biggest idea on the table involved climbing into the first round of the draft, with the Penguins apparently prepared to use one or both of Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell to make it happen.
But that route never materialized. As Yohe put it, “Dubas either misjudged the value of his assets or, more likely, misjudged how challenging the market would be.”
In other words, Kyle Dubas had a plan, but the market didn’t cooperate - and he wasn’t willing to empty the cupboard just to force it.
The Jason Robertson pursuit was another swing that didn’t connect. Yohe reported that Dubas pushed hard to pry Robertson out of Dallas, but the deal never got close. Whether Pittsburgh held back and hoped the situation would shift is unclear, but if that was the strategy, it didn’t pay off.
That’s why Yohe thinks the real action could come in 2027. He wrote:
“Next summer, the Penguins could have in excess of $70 million in cap space. The market will be much better.
They’ll have a better feel for which of their aging players can still be helpful down the road. They’ll have a feel for just how good Murashov is.
They’ll have a feel for which of their young players and prospects are ready for the NHL.”
Yohe also suggested the Penguins may already understand where they stand. He noted, “the Penguins aren’t ready to win yet, and Dubas knows it.”
That could mean patience now, with a bigger push later - after some contracts come off the books and the organization has a clearer read on its younger players and prospects.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosbys Old Penguins Deal Looks Different After Agents Admission
Sidney Crosbys old Penguins contract has taken on a new light after agent Pat Brisson opened up about how the deal came together. The 12-year agreement carrying an $8.7 million cap hit was built to bring the average annual value down, and it now reads very differently in an NHL landscape where younger stars are landing much bigger cap numbers as salaries keep climbing.
Brisson said the structure reflected real uncertainty around Crosbys future at the time, which helps explain why the deal was arranged the way it was. With the market moving and Crosby still producing at a high level, the next question is whether he and his camp will revisit his compensation soon, especially as other top players continue to reset the price of elite talent. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Trade Leverage Could Shift Fast Around Rust Or Rakell
The Penguins have already done the part that often starts the trade rumor mill: they listened. According to Josh Yohe, Pittsburgh at least explored the market for Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, but the offers on the table never reached the point where a deal made sense. For a team trying to balance present value with future flexibility, that matters, because both players still carry the kind of reputation that can draw real interest if the timing and the price line up.
Toronto may be the club worth watching if this conversation heats back up. Brad Treliving has been linked to the idea of one more major swing, and if the Maple Leafs decide they still want to chase a blockbuster, Pittsburgh could find itself back in the middle of it. For now, though, this is less about a finished trade market than a shifting one, with the Penguins waiting to see whether the right bidder eventually shows up. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Still Face One Big Erik Karlsson Problem On Defense
The Penguins head into training camp still trying to sort out the shape of a blue line that looks a lot different than it did a year ago. With several departures from last season and a few new faces in the mix, the opening weeks will be less about polishing details and more about finding the right combinations, especially on a defense that already projects as a potential weak spot.
Erik Karlsson is the biggest piece of that puzzle, and he needs a new partner after the changes around him reshuffled the depth chart. Trevor van Riemsdyk is part of the conversation, while Declan Carlile has also been pushed into the mix as the team looks for someone who can give Karlsson a workable fit. The answer is not obvious yet, which is why the Penguins still have plenty to figure out before camp settles anything down. [Read more 🡒]