- Kyle Dubas is listening on Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell
- Penguins are working with a cash-strict budget and new ownership that wants a younger roster
- Read below for contracts, trade protection and what Dreger said
Kyle Dubas is listening on the Penguins’ veterans.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Insider Trading that the Pittsburgh GM is taking calls on defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, plus forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. New ownership wants the team to get younger.
Dreger explained why this is a trickier job than a normal sell-off:
“What I can tell you is there’s new ownership in Pittsburgh, but the focus remains on getting younger. The difference is it’s more complex from a management perspective because even though Dubas is listening on players like Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell, he’s working with a cash-strict budget, not just the NHL’s salary cap.”
Dreger added that the players know the situation and so do other teams around the league. In his words, Dubas is “open for business.”
Pittsburgh was 4-6-1 when Dreger made the comments. The Penguins have won two straight since, beating Florida 4-0 and Nashville, and they host Utah on Thursday.
Karlsson is the headliner. The 36-year-old had 11 points in 11 games when Dreger spoke, a point-per-game pace and the team lead. He carries a $10 million cap hit but is only earning $1.5 million in salary this season, and he’s a pending unrestricted free agent.
Letang is 39 and signed through next season at $6.1 million. He had five assists in 11 games, and his trade protection means he has a say in where he’d go.
Rust and Rakell look like the easier pieces to move. Rust is on injured reserve and expected to miss at least six weeks, with $5.125 million due through 2027-28. Rakell has one goal and four points in 11 games and a $5 million cap hit through next season, along with an eight-team no-trade list.
Sidney Crosby is also a pending unrestricted free agent, though his future in Pittsburgh appears safe. Evgeni Malkin is already on a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.
A cash-strict budget means Dubas can’t just clear salary for the sake of it, and teams around the league know that.
