Dubas Avoids Long-Term Gamble: Penguins Make Priorities Clear on the Salary Cap
Photo credit: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has made his priorities clear with an eye on the future considering how he's gone about this summer, his 3rd as GM of the club.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who have missed the postseason in each of the last 3 years, aren't projected to come anywhere close to competing for the Stanley Cup this year, much less making the playoffs.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has not made any meaningful additions to the team, nor has he been able to find a trade partner for forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell as well as defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Why Pittsburgh's $13 Million Cap Cushion Matters Now
The Penguins signed a handful of inexpensive and short term contracts that added depth on their blue line, and they still have ample salary cap space with the cap projected to rise.
Even with the AAV (average annual value) of $11.5 million for Karlsson still on the books, the Penguins have nearly $14 million to spend.
Dubas Balances Future Flexibility With Risky Contracts Still on the Books
The Penguins could trade one of Rakell and Rust, and even Karlsson; it would immediately free up even more salary cap space.
The NHL salary cap is expected to rise in the upcoming years, and the free agent class next summer is going to be chalk-full of notable names.
Longtime Penguins mainstay Evgeni Malkin is expected to retire after this year, which would leave a massive hole in their lineup despite their recent struggles.
Names like Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Jason Robertson, Patrik Laine, Artemi Panarin, and Trevor Zegras will be up for grabs next summer, and Dubas could be thinking ahead to try and snag one of those names as a replacement for Malkin and to get the club back into contention.
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