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Kyle Dubas earns credit for Penguins retool as roster pushes into playoff race
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Josh Cybulski says Kyle Dubas flipped cap headaches into help, bringing Skinner and Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins while reshaping the roster around Crosby.
Dubas first solved the crease. He moved Tristan Jarry and Samuel Poulin and ultimately landed Skinner, who carries a $2.6 million cap hit on Pittsburgh's books this season.
Skinner has delivered stability with 19 wins in 39 starts. That matters for a team that bled points earlier in the year when the goaltending carousel spun.
The second move attacked the top-six. Dubas acquired Yegor Chinakhov, age 25, a 2020 first-round pick drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Chinakhov carries a $2.1 million cap hit and becomes an RFA this summer. Pittsburgh sent Danton Heinen plus a 2026 second and 2027 third to make it happen.
That price signals intent. Dubas wanted speed and a quick release that fits beside Evgeni Malkin or Rickard Rakell in a rush-driven attack.
The front office kept layering depth too. Elmer Soderblom, age 24, drafted in 2019 in the sixth round by Detroit, arrived with a $1.125 million cap hit through 2026-27.
Kyle Dubas gives Pittsburgh Penguins roster real balance
Around the fan base, the mood has shifted from panic to cautious belief. Supporters see a roster that finally looks younger and faster.
The Penguins now sit at 32-17-14. That record keeps them firmly planted in the Eastern Conference playoff conversation.
Samuel Girard quietly strengthened the blue line as well. The puck-moving defender allows Pittsburgh to exit the zone cleaner and feed transition offense.
That matters for Crosby and the top unit. When the breakout is quick, Pittsburgh's veteran core can still punish teams off the rush.
Cap space also remains workable. The club still holds more than $10 million in projected flexibility, giving Dubas room before the next trade window.
For Tuesday's game against Carolina, the blueprint is simple. Stable goaltending, quicker wingers, and a blue line that moves the puck.
Dubas did not tear the Penguins down. He simply made them functional again.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Dan Muse provides an update on Sidney Crosby's anticipated comeback
Dan Muse provides an update on Sidney Crosby's anticipated comeback
| POLL | ||
MARS 10|100 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas earns credit for Penguins retool as roster pushes into playoff race Should Kyle Dubas get credit for the Pittsburgh Penguins retool? | ||
| Yes | 84 | 84 % |
| No | 16 | 16 % |
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