The Pittsburgh media was calling for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to shake things up following his club’s humiliating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday.
They didn’t have to wait long as Dubas traded checking-line center Lars Eller back to the Washington Capitals. In return, the Penguins received a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL draft and a fifth-rounder in 2025 that originally belonged to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The move came with the Penguins sagging in the standings with a 6-9-2 record. That has some pundits pondering what else Dubas might have in store.
Following the loss to the Stars, Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports reported a league source said Dubas let it be known around the league that everyone is available, except 87 (Sidney Crosby).
Haase believes Dubas doesn’t intend on a complete teardown and rebuild of the roster until Crosby retires. The 37-year-old Penguins captain signed a two-year contract extension in September, meaning his retirement won’t be until sometime after the 2026-27 campaign.
According to Haase, the objective of any near-future trades won’t be for draft picks or prospects but for players to help them try to win with Crosby. She also noted the no-movement protections for Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson and Bryan Rust, while seven other players have modified no-trade clauses.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports his sources claim the Penguins seek young NHL players, followed by already-drafted prospects, followed by draft picks. He also pointed out the difficulty moving several of their notable stars due to their no-move protection.
The Score’s Josh Wegman cited Eller’s pending UFA status, noting selling off such players is common practice for struggling teams like the Penguins. Anthony Beauvillier, Drew O’Connor, Marcus Pettersson and Matt Grzelcyk also fall into that category but are unlikely to fetch players in return.
The Hockey News’ Kelsey Surmacz added Jesse Puljujaarvi to that pending UFA list. She also suggested players with term on their contracts, such as Noel Acciari, Alex Nedeljkovic and Letang, as trade options, though the latter is a long shot because of his age and no-move clause.
Before the Eller trade, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Dubas wasn’t staging a fire sale despite recent speculation. He stated the Penguins GM was calling to let his peers know he’s open for business, but there was no sense of panic.
Which Penguin is next on the trade block remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Dubas is just getting started.
Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.
Related: Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Lars Eller To Washington Capitals One Day After 7-1 Loss