Star Right-Shot Young Defenseman May Be Available for Trade: Kyle Dubas Should Make a Call

The Pittsburgh Penguins, whether their fans like it or not are headed deep into a rebuild, and over the past 18 months, they've done a good job at acquiring young talent.

Whether that was the Jake Guentzel trade, the Rutger McGroarty acquisition or the 2025 NHL Draft, the team have added plenty of young talent, and now, Kyle Dubas is seemingly targeting young, NHL ready talent to lead them into a potential future beyond Sidney Crosby.

In a recent report from Michael Russo, he reveals that 22-year old blue liner Brandt Clarke could be had this off-season from the Los Angeles Kings, with GM Ken Holland seemingly ready to move young pieces to land proven veterans this summer.

If that is the case, this should be the perfect opportunity for Kyle Dubas to acquire a talented, NHL ready defenseman, and with Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson among those veterans that the team are ready to move, a potential deal between the two parties could make sense.

Last season, Clarke played his first full NHL campaign, tallying 5 goals and 33 points in 78 games, and with all the skill you could want in a young blue liner, he's only going to improve from here.

Ultimately, it's unclear whether or not the Kings will officially shop Clarke, as there's a chance that Holland sees him as a winning piece for this team in 2025/26, but if he ever becomes available, Clarke would be the perfect piece to lead the Penguins blue line forward for years to come.