BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kyle Dubas entertained one draft prospect after another Friday, speaking with the likes of Porter Martone, Kashawn Aitcheson and Jackson Smith in the restaurant at the NHL Draft Combine.
The draft is June 27-28. A few days later, the unrestricted free-agency signing period opens on July 1.
Trade season is fast approaching, too.
Dubas spoke Friday afternoon about the potential of being aggressive sooner rather than later.
“I would say that, probably with the UFA stuff (the July 1 signing period), we’re probably not (going to be aggressive) unless there’s someone young enough who maybe deserves a little bit more term,” he said.
That doesn’t mean Dubas is going to stand pat. Dubas said the Penguins have been contacted about potential trades.
“It’s similar to the trade deadline,” Dubas started. “The usual suspects are receiving all of the calls and interests.”
It’s no secret that teams covet some of the Penguins’ veterans, and Dubas shed some light on his plans in that regard.
“There are teams that have been rebuilding for a while that are looking to take steps,” he said. “They are interested. That’s potentially a good fit with us.”
Dubas and the Penguins have a bushel of draft picks and several veterans they’re willing to trade. In return, they hope to acquire young, talented players who, for whatever reason, are no longer proper fits on their teams.
If the Penguins are aggressive in the next month, it’s likely to be on the trade market more than in free agency.
“Yeah,” Dubas said, confirming that he’ll potentially be busy on the trade market. “Trade, (then) sign guys for longer range (after they’ve been acquired). UFA isn’t a good place to find good value.”
Not only is Dubas interested in talented, young players, but he’s keeping an eye on teams in salary-cap hell. He took advantage of that last season, when he made a couple of deals with Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators.
“I think what is more likely is teams in cap difficulty looking for someone older,” he said. “If they have younger guys available, those younger guys can fit with what we’re trying to do.”
Penguins fans are eager for Dubas to hit the restricted free-agent market, which the St. Louis Blues notably and impressively utilized against the Edmonton Oilers last season.
“Especially after last season with the success that Doug (Armstrong) had,” Dubas said. “It was a perfect storm, a flat cap.”
The salary cap is rising significantly this summer.
“I don’t think you’re going to see as much of it this year,” said Dubas, who strongly implied the Penguins won’t be going after any restricted free agents.
The Penguins have five restricted free agents on their roster, including Conor Timmins, P.O Joseph, Connor Dewar, Philip Tomasino and Vasily Ponomarev.
“We’ve had some discussions with some agents,” Dubas said. “We have pro meetings coming up Monday in Pittsburgh. We’ll sort through where we’re at. You also get great insights from agents and other teams about how things are going to shake loose (while being at the combine). It better informs your decisions, how far you want to go with certain guys, arbitration cases. Are players at the same ability available for less money?”
One player apparently won’t be available. Ponomarev, who played briefly for the Penguins and for much of the season in AHL Wilkes-Barre during the 2024-25 campaign, likely will play next season in the KHL.
“That’s my understanding, yes,” Dubas said. “He switched agents once or twice. Negotiated his own deal over there. He’s young. We’ll watch him. We weren’t going to promise him anything. He got a lot of opportunities with us. We’ll just keep watching him. It is what it is. It’s business.”
The Penguins, who still own his NHL rights, weren’t blown away by him in his brief stint in Pittsburgh.
“When he came up last year, before the trade with Carolina, he played with a lot more pace there,” Dubas said in reference to Ponomarev’s NHL debut with the Hurricanes before he was traded to Pittsburgh in the Jake Guentzel deal. “Obviously, it’s a different environment. Carolina was at a different point in its evolution. It’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Dubas said the combine doesn’t really have any influence on which players the Penguins ultimately pick in the draft. Rather, he simply likes getting to know the players who might someday become Penguins.
“I think, more than anything, if you end up drafting some of these guys, you get a feel for who they are,” he said. “There’s some familiarity when they come to your building for development camp July 3. It helps you develop relationships.”
