Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas stated at his news conference on Wednesday that his team’s success in the next two weeks will decide whether or not he sells by the trade deadline of March 8. If that sounds familiar, it’s because earlier this month, following the all-star break, he essentially said the same thing. Due to his team’s troubles to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, Dubas has been receiving more calls from rival general managers, according to The Hockey News’ Nick Horwat. According to a recent story by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, which Nicholas Brlansky quoted, the general manager of the Penguins was open to hearing offers on almost every player save his core group.
The core is made up of established players Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, but Brlansky also proposed Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Marcus Pettersson. If Jake Guentzel’s eligibility for UFA status on July 1 didn’t cast doubt on his Pittsburgh future, then so would he. Dubas left the door open for the 29-year-old winger to be moved by the deadline, according to Horwat.
Dubas will look for youthful assets if he decides to sell some of his players. He will be looking for results that will benefit his team both now and in the future. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet confirmed colleague Elliotte Friedman’s recent conjecture that Guentzel might fetch two draft picks—including a first-round pick—and a promising young player. The Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings were among the teams Jacob Punturi proposed as potential destinations. Reilly Smith, an off-season acquisition, might potentially be a trade target. Jesse Granger of The Athletic proposed a reunion with the Vegas Golden Knights, and Friedman contemplated a possible comeback to the Florida Panthers. In addition, Friedman allowed his fantasies to go wild, considering the possibility of Karlsson rejoining the Ottawa Senators and former captain turned helpful coach Daniel
