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NHL insider hints at another significant Penguins trade: 'Things about to get interesting'
Photo credit: Edit from Daily Faceoff
NHL insider Josh Yohe stated that Kyle Dubas is not done making significant trades yet and believes things are about to get interesting soon enough.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' future isn't here yet, but Kyle Dubas is making it clear how he plans to get there.
After Monday's trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dubas confirmed his approach: summer 2026 will be the turning point. Insider Josh Yohe still believes that.
"This won't be the last significant trade the Penguins are in on this season. Kyle Dubas has said as much. Things about to get interesting. Monday's trade was just the beginning."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
The big trade the Penguins completed on Monday
Monday, the Penguins traded a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and Danton Heinen to Columbus for 24-year-old winger Yegor Chinakhov. Chinakhov's talent is obvious, but he's unproven.
The trade is a risk, relying not just on the player but also on first-year head coach Dan Muse and the Penguins' culture to make it work.
This season was never about contending. It was about gathering assets, improving the system, and setting the foundation for greatness.
Reinforcements are on the way. In the 2026 draft, Pittsburgh still holds its first-round pick, two second-round picks, and two third-round picks. If this season falters, Dubas could move into sell mode, adding even more draft capital.
Over the next three drafts, the Penguins have 16 picks in the top three rounds. Some will be kept, some traded, all as part of a strategy Dubas has followed since 2023.
Why the Penguins will be able to pursue impactful free agents
With more than $50 million in cap space this summer, the Penguins can pursue impactful free agents, but their real power lies in combining draft picks with cap flexibility to land a blockbuster move, according to Yohe.
The Penguins aren't fully in buy mode, though they may move veterans at the deadline if needed. Their transformation is visible, and Dubas is ready to take the next steps.
Monday's trade for Chinakhov is just the beginning, and Yohe sees more aggressive moves coming as the team positions itself for 2026.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 214 ANSWERS NHL insider hints at another significant Penguins trade: 'Things about to get interesting' Will Kyle Dubas make another significant trade? | ||
| Yes | 202 | 94.4 % |
| No | 12 | 5.6 % |
| List of polls | ||