\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP24336111247918-1024x630.jpg\")
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)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
BUFFALO, N.Y. \u2014 Before Game 2 of the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, as the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>\u2018 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.<\/p>\n Color me surprised that more people aren\u2019t 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\u2019m told the Pittsburgh Business Times<\/a> had more on the story we\u2019ve been chasing for a few weeks.<\/p>\n I haven’t done a Q&A in a while! \u2014 Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) September 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019t completed the sale, but it surely won\u2019t make it easier.<\/p>\n No, Penguins fans via DMs and replies want to know when the trades will happen. Though y\u2019all gotta stop DM\u2019ing me asking for inside info. That\u2019s a Honey Mustard question. If I haven\u2019t reported it, I don\u2019t have it!<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Penguins Q&A<\/p>\n What’s your gut feeling of what Dubas is going to do next?<\/p>\n \u2014 Scott Mccaskey (@mccaskey_scott) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n If I had a nickel for every time I\u2019ve been asked that, or if I had a clue about it, I\u2019d be a rich man. <\/p>\n Check out my Saturday column, \u201cThe Penguins Are a Mess, Right on Schedule<\/a>.\u201d 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\u2019s an ownership issue, a Sidney Crosby issue, and there\u2019s a time-of-year issue. <\/p>\n I don\u2019t believe the ownership situation is much in play regarding trades. <\/p>\n 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\u2019m only guessing as to Dubas\u2019s next steps. We know that Dubas wants to get going on the rebuild, retool, or re-whatever. And we know that Sidney Crosby\u2019s agent<\/a> is applying some pressure to get better quickly. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The guess here is that Dubas will have to cave on his asking prices because the league knows he\u2019s on the clock and they can wait him out, but \u2026 it only takes one injury or one GM to lose patience to get things going. That\u2019s Dubas\u2019s gambit. <\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n \u2014 Del Scott (@delscott331) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Harrison Brunicke<\/a>. There\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n Watching him in Game 1 at the Prospects Challenge, it was obvious he\u2019s too good for juniors and is picking up bad habits, such as assuming he can skate around everybody, which he can do \u2026 sometimes. <\/p>\n I don\u2019t think Ben Kindel<\/a> is quite there yet, and we don\u2019t yet know the extend or severity of Bill Zonnon\u2019s injury. <\/p>\n I also don\u2019t think Tristan Broz or Avery Hayes\u2013both of whom will make their NHL debuts this season\u2013will make the team out of camp because of the glut of veterans. We\u2019d all like to see them in a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater, but it probably won\u2019t happen for Game 1. <\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n \u2014 RJ (@RHPRandy) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n 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\u2019s not ideal, but it\u2019s OK. <\/p>\n The Penguins can always slip Brunicke down to WBS for a conditioning assignment if he\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n His development is crucial, and he\u2019s clearly too good for junior hockey, even the very talented and pro-style WHL. <\/p>\n Also, if he does hit restricted free agent status a year sooner, that might mean he\u2019s a year less developed and thus a little less expensive, too. Or, if he\u2019s at full stride within three years, then that aspect is a wash and irrelevant. <\/p>\n Why hasn\u2019t Dan released his nudes yet?<\/p>\n \u2014 GlennGuglia (@GugliaGlenn) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Sorry. Dave Molinari was the aspiring underwear model of the PHN family, and now that he\u2019s moved on with his new book (Get it here<\/a>), we\u2019re currently seeking a new person for that role. For my pics, you\u2019ll have to check the dark web. <\/p>\n Dan-What are the PENS \ud83d\udc27\ud83c\udfd2 looking for back in a Karlsson trade return? JC<\/p>\n \u2014 john chergi (@JChergi) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n There aren\u2019t 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\u2019re the only bidder. <\/p>\n There isn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Ville Koivunen<\/a> was a B-level prospect with Carolina when the Penguins acquired him in the Jake Guentzel trade. The Penguins should be so lucky again. <\/p>\n If the Pens have the difficult season we all expect, is it possible Crosby is dealt at the trade deadline?<\/p>\n \u2014 Jamie Schmidt (@jamieschmidt68) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Extremely unlikely, but as Crosby\u2019s agent Pat Brisson said, \u201cAnything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n 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). <\/p>\n Hey, even Mario sold, right?<\/p>\n However, check the situation. This is likely, though not confirmed, to be Evgeni Malkin\u2019s final season. It will be the final season in which Kris Letang has full no-movement protection, too. Crosby\u2019s not going to bail on those two before the season is over. <\/p>\n You can\u2019t leave your own party before it\u2019s 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\u2019s got. <\/p>\n If\u2026IF\u2026IFFFFF there is some movement on that trade front, it will begin next April, following the season <\/p>\n KD couldn\u2019t have done (the Fedotov) deal and moved Jarry???<\/p>\n The salary difference is only $2M<\/p>\n \u2014 Kyle in CryptoLand (@KyleCryptoLand) September 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> unloaded goalie Ivan Fedotov to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a sixth-round pick. Fedotov will make $3.275 million this season. <\/p>\n 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\u2019s, but more importantly, Fedotov has only this season remaining on his contract. <\/p>\n So, if the trade works, great. You can re-sign him or trade him, but if it doesn\u2019t work, you slap him on the back and say thanks for coming. <\/p>\n Jarry has three years remaining, so the risk is much greater. Also, what would become of the Penguins with Arturs Silovs<\/a> and Joel Blomqvist as the primary goalies? <\/p>\n Tanking is not the Penguins\u2019 goal. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: kyle dubas<\/a> Penguins Prospects<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> Sidney Crosby<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t
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<\/a><\/p>\n