{"id":229761,"date":"2026-06-27T17:22:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T17:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/229761\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T17:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T17:22:09","slug":"dubas-spills-the-tea-priced-out-of-trades-rebuild-strategy-no-regrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/229761\/","title":{"rendered":"Dubas Spills the Tea: Priced Out of Trades, Rebuild Strategy, & No Regrets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 <\/a>rebuild is going to take a little bit longer than hoped.<\/p>\n

General manager Kyle Dubas<\/a> admitted late Friday night that he was priced out of the NHL trade market in the days leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft. And he doesn\u2019t much care for the coming free agent market, either.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters following the conclusion of the first round of the draft at the Penguins\u2019 temporary downtown Pittsburgh draft headquarter, Dubas seemed just a little surprised by the exorbitant costs that have far exceeded recent history for similar players. By Friday had already accepted the cold reality that he neither had the assets to move up from the 22nd spot in the first round, nor the desirable goodies to acquire an impact player for the team\u2019s lineup. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I think we\u2019ll continue to work away at it. What I wanted to (get) was maybe not so much late 20s (difference maker), but in the range of some of the guys that have been moved, in past years, they haven\u2019t gone for that level of asset, right,\u201d said Dubas. \u201cThere were multiple top 10 picks moved, which isn\u2019t overly common. So, for us, we would aspire to be involved in every one of those conversations. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just that we didn\u2019t have a top 10 pick because of the season that the team had, and I don\u2019t think we would change that whatsoever because of the way that it was really fueled by the development of (Ben) Kindel, (Blake) Lizotte, (Connor) Dewars and guys that are going to be a part of it for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

No, the Penguins could not afford the going trade prices for high-profile players. Dubas also completed the loop by admitting they \u201cworked their butt off\u201d to trade up in the draft but realized it was futile, and despite not going big on a trade, they will not lavish money on free agents on July 1. <\/p>\n

In fact, Dubas couldn\u2019t help but laugh out loud at the thought. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at the players available, that could be an expensive mistake,\u201d Dubas said with a real laugh. \u201cAnd I try to learn from the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t specifically say defenseman Ryan Graves or goalie Tristan Jarry,<\/a> whom he signed to lucrative and long-term contracts on July 1, 2023, but he might as well have.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the primary takeaways from Dubas\u2019s conversation with reporters Friday were not only that the Penguins do not have the necessary trade capital for the big move they seek, but the market forces are pushing Dubas to either incorporate the prospects in a greater way or to again sign bargain free agents who want a chance at something more to build on the base he has established.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (Parker) Wotherspoon, we\u2019ve got Artie (Silovs) in net, and you know, Sergei (Murashov) and Joel (Blomqvist), pushing,\u201d said Dubas. \u201cIt might not be the same way that everybody else does it, but I don\u2019t know that we\u2019ll pivot (after not being able to make the trades). We\u2019ll continue to stay involved in all those discussions and see where it lands \u2026 It\u2019s trying to find that middle kind of bridge (between our young players and older veteran core). We\u2019d love to have it done already, but it might be something that\u2019s later in the summer, in the year, or next summer, but we\u2019ll stay after for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liam Ruck<\/p>\n

From the 22nd overall slot, which the Penguins were not able to improve, they got a player who filled the net in the WHL. Last season for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, right-winger Liam Ruck<\/a> had 45 goals in 68 games and totaled 104 points. In the WHL playoffs, Ruck didn\u2019t shrink, potting another eight goals in 14 games.<\/p>\n

At 6-foot, 177 pounds, he has some physical maturing ahead, but a player who can already score that many goals\u2013and do so without former teammate and top overall pick Gavin McKenna, who last year left Medicine Hat for Penn State\u2013speaks well. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just the talent, it\u2019s the talent plus just the enthusiasm and the intelligence, and how much he loves playing,\u201d said Dubas. \u201cI think (after) contributing to a contending team and playing well in the playoffs for them, it was a number of different things that just made him a great fit as a Pittsburgh Penguin.\u201d <\/p>\n

Dubas seemed to chuckle at the thought of Ruck being an immediate contributor at the NHL level, but he also may have hinted at the Penguins\u2019 draft plans for early Saturday. Ruck and his twin brother Markus have been inseparable, not spending more than four days apart in their entire lives. <\/p>\n

They were also linemates this past season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you\u2019ll see them in a couple of days (at Development Camp), their physical development will be the key, and I think that will increase (and) allow them to build the power and improve their skating,\u201d Dubas said. \u201cAnd if they can unlock that, it will be, will be a major development for them.\u201d <\/p>\n

They? Did Dubas tip the likelihood that the Penguins will snag Markus Ruck with the 39th overall pick, thus attempting to create their own version of the Sedin twins?<\/p>\n

Their coach, Willie Desjardins, has seen them up close and knows their connection on and off the ice. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, for sure,\u201d Desjardins told Canadian outlet Sportsnet. \u201cThere\u2019s stuff that they see. They just have that. They do things and you go, \u2018How did they know?\u2019 I think when they are together, there\u2019s just another level of chemistry and ability that goes with that. So I do think that, you know, whoever gets one (in the draft) will want to try to acquire the other somewhere along the line so they can have both.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stay tuned. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: 2026 NHL draft<\/a> kyle dubas<\/a> Penguins Trade<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n

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