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Kyle Dubas is narrowing the Penguins’ deadline plan to one clear fix
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Kyle Dubas needs a right-shot defenseman now, and the Pittsburgh Penguins blue line feels one injury away from chaos.
Pittsburgh is winning, sitting 26-14-11, but the back end has started to creak in the wrong spots.
Jack St. Ivany landing on injured reserve after surgery is the kind of break that forces emergency minutes onto the wrong pairings.
The clock matters, because the NHL trade deadline hits Friday, March 6.
Dubas does not need another shiny winger, he needs a calmer third pair and a safer penalty kill look.
That post on X nailed the vibe, make the Penguins better without spending a fortune.
Connor Murphy fits the "substance" lane, he is 32, drafted 2011 Round 1 by Phoenix, and his $4.4M deal expires after this season.
Luke Schenn is the pure depth play, 36, drafted 2008 Round 1 by Toronto, and he can survive ugly minutes when games turn into trench warfare.
Zach Whitecloud just landed in Calgary, 29, undrafted, right shot, and he feels like the kind of change-of-scenery add that stays affordable.
Kyle Dubas keeps the Pittsburgh Penguins from overpaying
Penguins fans have seen this movie, the second you chase "one more scorer," the blue line coughs up two goals in five minutes.
Justin Faulk is the priciest name here, 33, drafted 2010 Round 2 by Carolina, $6.5M cap hit, but the prorated math can work if St. Louis helps.
Braden Schneider is the swing, 24, drafted 2020 Round 1 by the Rangers, heavy and physical, and sometimes teams misprice that when they retool.
Shane Wright is the exception, 22, drafted 2022 Round 1 by Seattle, great future center depth, but this deadline should be defense first.
If Dubas lands one steady righty, Erik Karlsson can breathe, and the Penguins can get to March 6 without panic.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Insider Chris Johnston hints at a quiet but risky Penguins deadline move
Insider Chris Johnston hints at a quiet but risky Penguins deadline move