Why Kyle Dubas Must Pull the Trigger on This Crucial Penguins Trade

The Penguins require substance instead of style and stability instead of risky play. If they are to have any realistic hope of getting back into contention in the near future, they also need to shed some of their inflated contracts.

It's easy to downplay the impact of bad deals until you're attempting to win again, but they always turn out to be a major obstacle.

The Erik Karlsson trade was a swing for the fences by Kyle Dubas in August of 2023. It made sense at the time. Shedding dead money and acquiring a Norris winner had the look of a smart move.

The move was praised by many fans at first, but now all of those supporters of the trade appear to be wrong.

The deal looked good on paper. Dubas' logic was pretty easy to follow, and the move had short-term positives. In the end, though, it just didn't work out.

NHL insider Josh Yohe revealed several reasons why Karlsson must be traded by Dubas this summer.

Karlsson has a $10 million cap hit for two more seasons and will turn 35 this summer. That's a steep price to pay for a player whose value dropped so precipitously. The defensive gaffes were apparent this season, looking sloppy more than elite.

His power-play prowess was so weak that Matt Grzelcyk wound up taking his place, and the unit performed better right away.

And then there's a more basic problem: Karlsson either does not respond to coaching or is incapable of translating instruction into action. A nice guy off the ice, his easy-going nature is not what this team needs, but rather urgency, grit, and accountability.

The Penguins do have young talent poised to make the NHL leap, with Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, and defenseman Harrison Brunicke, among others.

Karlsson is not a bad influence, but his attitude and playing style are not something you'd want those players to replicate. From a development and direction perspective, it's the right time to move on.

Fans will definitely miss his character around the dressing room, but if the team can turn his move into a youthful impact with players for the future, it will be better overall.