NHL Trade Deadline: Kyle Dubas talks about what happened for the Penguins

Pens GM speaks after 2025 NHL trade deadline

Pittsburgh General Manager/President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas met with the media on Friday for a recap of trade deadline activities. You can view it here:

Dubas had as busy a day as anyone around the league, making four trades that included five total players (three going, two coming) and five draft picks (four coming and one going). Add it into Wednesday’s deal that moved Michael Bunting and a pick for two more players and there’s been a lot of activity lately.

• Called Vincent Desharnais, “David Desharnais” in a slip of the tongue which was amusing since David was so small and Vincent is so big. Has a million things going on and through his head but that was funny.
• On Rakell: “You don’t just push that out the door…You have to do what’s right for the Pittsburgh Penguins and for us keeping Rickard Rakell was a part of that”
• What stage the Pens are at: they spent 12 months improving assets and adding cap space, now it’s time to shift. Doesn’t know if they can use all the draft picks given the sheer number will have some available for trade and will have space in free agency. Will shift from asset collection to start adding to the roster, though patience will be required.
• Did he ask anyone to move a no trade clause: no circumstances came up with an approach that made it worthwhile to even ask the players that have them to waive it.
• Market on Grzelcyk/Rakell: lots of interest in Rakell but based on his value and term and the way he’s played that it was best for him to remain. Mentioned that “there were teams that kicked tires” on Grzelcyk but they got through the deadline with him, insinuating there was not much in the way of firm offers or interest.
• On Erik Karlsson rumors: “Erik is an interesting one” due to when he was added in summer 2023 when the team was still trying to contend. Team is not at that stage any more but Karlsson is a talented player. “He’s not a player we would look to just move along, he’s a hugely valuable piece”.
• On cap flexibility: “if there are opportunities to use the excess [built up] in cap space or draft picks to [use that to] add to the program to propel it ahead, we won’t hesitate to do that”. “There’s no ambition on my end to have this taken any longer than it has to take”
• Message to current group after trading some NHL players for picks: “certain standard for the team and we expect that to be upheld…come in and play hard, train..There’s a number of guys with a lot to play for”. Says there is a “massive opportunity” for players with short-term contracts or who have been up and down to assert themselves to the coaching staff and management for next season, citing Conor Timmons, Connor Dewar and Tommy Novak as players under team control for next season.
• On Graham from the Devils trade: Graham is a big, physical winger, had a season-ending knee injury. The Pens feel that injury might have made him available and are interested in his profile of toughness and some skill, they plan to get him around for medicals and hope to have him up to speed for prospect camp and September’s Buffalo challenge.
• On Stillman: Highly competitive winger, Dubas has known him for a while from the OHL. Will play hard and physical, offensive history hasn’t come to the surface yet at the AHL level but they look forward to working with him and what he can do with Wilkes.
• On Timmons: Dubas has known a long time, drafted him with the Soo in 2014. Good size, talented puck mover, overcome injury. Still sees a lot of potential with his age and puck moving ability and was happy to pick him up from Toronto when they needed to clear salary cap space.
• On Dewar: Highly competitive, great teammate, different style of player but similar to Boko Imama as a guy who will bring energy and spirit to the team through a tough time in the season.
• Thoughts on being two years into what he hoped would be a quick rebuild with an old core: Dubas says his goal is still to build a group around the core. Included Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell by name in that for what it’s worth. Up to him as the manager to make smart decisions to drive the Penguins forward. Dubas doesn’t want the expectation that they will spend “all” of their assets this summer, but if the right moves are there he will go for them. He wants to temper expectations about speed but will be looking this summer to see what is available. They are comfortable with using the picks they have this summer if it comes to that. Pledged to give everything he can to give the older players one last chance to compete, but doesn’t want to put a time limit on when that might be since he doesn’t know exactly how the opportunities will shape up.