Where are the Pittsburgh Penguins trades? Where are the moves?

On June 19, Penguins fans are getting a little bit antsy as more than one month has passed since general manager Kyle Dubas threw down the gauntlet, challenging himself to take a “sustainable step forward” in the Penguins’ rebuild.

Dubas called out his targets. Players who are unhappy in their current situation and have some control. Players not getting a big enough role where they are. And free agents who want the best support from the sports science department and coaches.

Thus far, Dubas’s only trade has been a home-run, albeit one that most likely benefits the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins far more than the NHL squad, by acquiring Slovak Olympian Oliver Okuliar from the Florida Panthers for disappointing defenseman prospect Emil Pieniniemi.

The trade was an astounding get for a former third-round pick who spent most of the season in the ECHL. Okuliar just might crack the Penguins’ NHL lineup for a few stints at the top level.

So, with a massive case of both writer’s block and “I’ve already written about that three times,” PHN flung open the door for a Q&A, soliciting Qs via X and our trouble Live Chat from Wednesday.

Penguins Q&A

**I’ll admit this is premature, but whatever. What odds do you give that Dubas sits in his hands re: the NHL roster again this offseason and the Pens start 2026-27 with basically 1 forward opening? –KyleinCryptoLand

Answer: I don’t think Dubas sat on his hands last summer. At the time, it felt like a lot of spare parts and thrift store shopping, but in retrospect, he did a brilliant job that helped turnover the Penguins roster from a stale, too often disengaged group to an exuberant group of go-getters.

This summer, my feeling is that Dubas is reaching too high, too fast, by trying to acquire an impact player, and will ultimately settle for a few smaller moves. Expect one or two Penguins trades for attainable restricted free agents and young players who have not yet hit their full potential. Mavrik Bourque and Pavel Mintyukov spring to mind as second-tier potentials who fit the Penguins’ price points and current rebuilding situation. .

**Opening night…who is the starting goalie? — FreeCandy

A: Great question. I can only predict the answer as I believe Dubas was sincere when he promised an open competition. I believe that both Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov will have good camps, and in that case, coach Dan Muse will establish a pecking order from the get-go by starting Silovs.

Assuming Silovs does indeed re-sign. He’s an RFA without a new contract.

**Tommy Bleyl is the only player in our range I’d be happy with. That’s mostly because I do not want to just sit at 22 and make that pick. Of course he needs a trade partner, but I hate it. Bleyl is about as good as I’d hope for at 22 personally — Dbell646

A: Oh, I think that’s a bit too pessimistic. Bleyl is a point-producing right-handed defenseman, but he’s not big, and defensemen take a few minutes to develop for the NHL game. He would be a solid pick at 22, but there will be several prospects with high potential–even top-six forward potential–available to the Penguins at 22.

Bill Zonnon was selected at 22, and this is universally considered a much better draft than last year.

**Which 2 young dynamic Top line Wingers for Sid, Which Stud 2C, which 2 young dynamic Top 4 LHD will we bring in this Summer? — SidneyCup: Hockey God Genius

A: Would you also like the lottery numbers, a foot rub, and the number to the Oval Office red phone?

I’ll answer one, tepidly. As for a second-line center, the view here is that the Penguins could upgrade without making a splash signing or trade. Tommy Novak is a nice complimentary piece, but he shrank late in the season and the playoffs.

Don’t forget Ben Kindel will continue developing. And the Dylan Larkin shoe has yet to drop. While the Penguins are not thought to be a contender for Larkin, that trade will probably send a few ripples through the NHL pond, and the Penguins might find a displaced pivot available to them. Otherwise, centers are this year’s prison cigarettes–they’re rare, valuable, and no one is giving them up.

**What’s your knowledge of the Mike Babcock situation? Why would Edmonton want this distraction right now?

A: Terrible move. Even if Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl want this move, there are now a lot of secondary and role players who want out. They know what Babcock does, how he massages stars but also picks targets to destroy in order to keep control of the room as some sort of devious manipulation.

It’s a bewildering decision by Edmonton, born of desperation in the light of their fading hopes to deliver a Cup for McDavid. Never has there been a cavalcade of such bad GM’ing by a succession of men adhering to expired thinking during the tenure of an all-time great.

Not even during Mario Lemieux’s first six years.

**I blinked and Florida, Vegas and Colorado got old. It happens quickly it seems. Chasing cups has this effect I suppose also worth it if you win a few — Drizzy

A: Yes, and GMs are learning the lesson that dishing out picks for rentals and 35-year-old players just isn’t worth the lottery ticket, so teams are holding their young players and looking for more–even the best teams employ that philosophy, with only rare exceptions (i.e. Colorado acquiring Nazem Kadri) befitting more extreme circumstances.

And this is why Dubas can’t ride roughshod over the rest of the league, just scooping up young players.

Darnell Nurse Trade

**Is Nurse really that bad, or do the Oilers fans just like to blame him for everything, like they did with Stu? — @lilbeansprout2614

It would be hard for any player to be as bad as some up North have portrayed. The pressure in the form of constant criticism can get to players.

Some incorrectly believe the Oilers will have to pay a team to take Nurse, but that’s an exaggerated take. Edmonton will get something in return because Nurse is a legitimate NHL defender (He didn’t get a golden candy bar wrapper giving him a $9.25 million cap hit, eh?).

**Sam Girard and Ville Koivunen and a 2nd for Darnell Nurse and Savoie or Howard — @1pbdecoded1pb

A: Of all the mock Penguins trades out there, that’s not bad. Trying to include Isaac Howard is probably a stretch, but a prospect swap like the superior Matthew Savoie for Ville Koivunen is in line with real thinking because it would offer a benefit for the Penguins while affording Edmonton salary cap space.

Savoie, 22, is an embattled prospect who finally popped last season and had 18 goals.

I think Girard and Nurse are at similar stations, but Girard makes only $5 million for one more year, which is a huge selling point–a capable defenseman, who might fit very well with Edmonton’s offensive push and delivering an additional $4.25 million of cap space.

But God Almighty help Girard with Babcock as coach.

However, you went too far by including the second-round pick. Girard would be a solid get for Edmonton, and perhaps better than Nurse, so they will have to compensate the Penguins. Also, you don’t ASK Kyle Dubas for a second-round pick, you GIVE Kyle Dubas a second-round pick. Thems the rules. ​​

Taking on Nurse’s contract and risk is more valuable than the Koivunen for Savoie flip. So, Girard for Nurse and Savoie — or — Girard and Koiuvunen for Nurse, Savoie and a second-rounder aren’t terrible deals.

**What would your ideal, get on the bike and go, weekend vacation be? How would you define successful off season for the Pens? — Bill Whitfield

A: A successful Penguins offseason should not be defined by a singular move or by judging if they got a big-name talent. If Dubas pulls that off and it appears the Penguins are in a better LONG-TERM situation, then it’s a successful summer. Overall, if the Penguins are better off to win in three to five years, that’s all that matters.

One good young player would be enough for me to give him Dubas a W.

A2: As for the bike, don’t get me started. I love Cherry Springs State Park and Wellsboro up north. Take 28/36 to I-80 then hop off near Kylertown or Snow Shoe, then catch some back roads to 144N, which is a twisty mountain ride through Renovo, higher into the mountains to Rt. 44 which comes out between Coudersport and Wellsboro (Galeton. A tiny town that spends HUGE money on its Fourth of July spectacular). It’s a blast. Stop at the little bar and general store in Germania.

If I get a full weekend and a third day of travel, I’d like to go south again to the Tail of the Dragon in the Great Smokey Mountains, south of Knoxville.

For the uninitiated, “The Tail” annually claims several dozen sports cars and motorcycles, and every few years a life. It’s 318 turns in 11 miles, and you’d better hang on because those turns are sharp and the road is undulating. I earned my Dragon decal and I’m proud to say I did it with some aggression. For all I was worth, consequences be damned. Towards the end, my bike blew a fork seal, and my jeans were covered in oil and grease, but … worth it. I did it.

And then I stopped at the convenience store/Hardees at the end of Rt. 129 for a Gatorade and to question my life choices. Much like the 2025-26 season…

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