Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell, right, celebrates with Sidney Crosby (87) after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Before Game 2 of the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, as the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ rookie team will face the Columbus Blue Jackets, we opened the door for reader questions as part of our first Penguins Q&A of the new season.
Color me surprised that more people aren’t talking about the ownership issue. PHN has raised a couple of issues, including those of deadlines to develop the real estate around the arena, and I’m told the Pittsburgh Business Times had more on the story we’ve been chasing for a few weeks.
I haven’t done a Q&A in a while!
I’m thinking I’ll take some Qs for print and some for video from the rink.
Sale. Trades. Dubas. Prospects.
Fire away! pic.twitter.com/wtBk7ZulpV
— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) September 14, 2025
Because the sides have buttoned their lips, there is no way to confirm that the real estate is the reason that the two sides haven’t completed the sale, but it surely won’t make it easier.
No, Penguins fans via DMs and replies want to know when the trades will happen. Though y’all gotta stop DM’ing me asking for inside info. That’s a Honey Mustard question. If I haven’t reported it, I don’t have it!
Pittsburgh Penguins Q&A
What’s your gut feeling of what Dubas is going to do next?
— Scott Mccaskey (@mccaskey_scott) September 14, 2025
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked that, or if I had a clue about it, I’d be a rich man.
Check out my Saturday column, “The Penguins Are a Mess, Right on Schedule.” There are a dozen factors that are limiting Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, and some of them are his own making, but some are beyond his control. There’s an ownership issue, a Sidney Crosby issue, and there’s a time-of-year issue.
I don’t believe the ownership situation is much in play regarding trades.
If I had to bet, the next big transaction or transactions would be waiving veterans. It would create a negative situation with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins having too many veteran players. However, I’m only guessing as to Dubas’s next steps. We know that Dubas wants to get going on the rebuild, retool, or re-whatever. And we know that Sidney Crosby’s agent is applying some pressure to get better quickly.
The great temptation is to acquiesce to the market forces and trade for current rates, which are obviously below the asking price. Sometimes, GMs win by holding on, and sometimes, they must surrender.
The guess here is that Dubas will have to cave on his asking prices because the league knows he’s on the clock and they can wait him out, but … it only takes one injury or one GM to lose patience to get things going. That’s Dubas’s gambit.
Other than Koivunen, McGroarty and Pickering, which prospect (or 2) do you think has a legit chance to make the team with a strong camp?
— Del Scott (@delscott331) September 14, 2025
Harrison Brunicke. There’s so much to like about his game that even if the CHL stands its ground (which appears likely) and does not move up the rule change allowing 19-year-olds in the AHL, the Penguins must find a way to keep Brunicke.
Watching him in Game 1 at the Prospects Challenge, it was obvious he’s too good for juniors and is picking up bad habits, such as assuming he can skate around everybody, which he can do … sometimes.
I don’t think Ben Kindel is quite there yet, and we don’t yet know the extend or severity of Bill Zonnon’s injury.
I also don’t think Tristan Broz or Avery Hayes–both of whom will make their NHL debuts this season–will make the team out of camp because of the glut of veterans. We’d all like to see them in a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater, but it probably won’t happen for Game 1.
Would you prefer Harry stays with Pens (assuming he gets limited minutes at best and becomes an RFA a year sooner) OR goes back to juniors (where his development is limited) and Pens keep the extra year of control?
— RJ (@RHPRandy) September 14, 2025
I think it would be beneficial to free Brunicke now. He might struggle, and he might get limited ice time and even limited games. That’s not ideal, but it’s OK.
The Penguins can always slip Brunicke down to WBS for a conditioning assignment if he’s sitting too long. My view on this one is that Brunicke is potentially a core piece of the rebuild, and playing and practicing with NHL players now will better serve him in the long run.
His development is crucial, and he’s clearly too good for junior hockey, even the very talented and pro-style WHL.
Also, if he does hit restricted free agent status a year sooner, that might mean he’s a year less developed and thus a little less expensive, too. Or, if he’s at full stride within three years, then that aspect is a wash and irrelevant.
Why hasn’t Dan released his nudes yet?
— GlennGuglia (@GugliaGlenn) September 14, 2025
Sorry. Dave Molinari was the aspiring underwear model of the PHN family, and now that he’s moved on with his new book (Get it here), we’re currently seeking a new person for that role. For my pics, you’ll have to check the dark web.
Dan-What are the PENS 🐧🏒 looking for back in a Karlsson trade return? JC
— john chergi (@JChergi) September 14, 2025
JC, one of my original Twitter followers from the Bud Moonshine days! The lack of an Erik Karlsson trade is the biggest surprise to me.
The vapid answer would be, as much as they can get. However, being realistic, there are only a few teams that qualify to be in the conversation, and they know it.
There aren’t many teams in contention with $10 million of salary cap space burning a hole in their pocket, while simultaneously being a preferred Karlsson destination. Imagine showing up at an auction and you’re the only bidder.
There isn’t a comparable trade on the books unless you count what San Jose got for Karlsson from the Penguins, which ultimately netted them two first-round picks (first one from the Penguins, then two years later, one from Dallas for Mikael Granlund). However, the Penguins will not be getting anything close to two first-round picks.
I think Dubas must save a little bit of face on this deal and get a nice prospect, not necessarily an A-level prospect or young player, but a solid B-level player they like.
Ville Koivunen was a B-level prospect with Carolina when the Penguins acquired him in the Jake Guentzel trade. The Penguins should be so lucky again.
If the Pens have the difficult season we all expect, is it possible Crosby is dealt at the trade deadline?
— Jamie Schmidt (@jamieschmidt68) September 14, 2025
Extremely unlikely, but as Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson said, “Anything is possible.”
Step back and look at the greater context. Crosby WANTS TO STAY, even as it seems everyone around him is telling him to go (Marc-Andre Fleury, Max Talbot, Brisson, and who knows who else).
Hey, even Mario sold, right?
However, check the situation. This is likely, though not confirmed, to be Evgeni Malkin’s final season. It will be the final season in which Kris Letang has full no-movement protection, too. Crosby’s not going to bail on those two before the season is over.
You can’t leave your own party before it’s over, and he will not. Everything I know about Sidney Patrick Crosby says that he will at least see this season through and give it everything he’s got.
If…IF…IFFFFF there is some movement on that trade front, it will begin next April, following the season
KD couldn’t have done (the Fedotov) deal and moved Jarry???
The salary difference is only $2M
— Kyle in CryptoLand (@KyleCryptoLand) September 14, 2025
Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers unloaded goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a sixth-round pick. Fedotov will make $3.275 million this season.
There is a simple answer here, Kyle. Fedotov is a low-risk, high-reward acquisition. As you note, his cost is more than $2 million less than Jarry’s, but more importantly, Fedotov has only this season remaining on his contract.
So, if the trade works, great. You can re-sign him or trade him, but if it doesn’t work, you slap him on the back and say thanks for coming.
Jarry has three years remaining, so the risk is much greater. Also, what would become of the Penguins with Arturs Silovs and Joel Blomqvist as the primary goalies?
Tanking is not the Penguins’ goal.
Tags: kyle dubas Penguins Prospects Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby
Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins