On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins dealt the rights for an NCAA prospect who was part of one of the biggest trades in recent memory for the Penguins
It was a matter of when, not if, for a Pittsburgh Penguins' NCAA prospect getting dealt to or signing with another NHL team.
And it finally came to a head on Wednesday.
It was reported Wednesday that the Penguins traded the rights to forward prospect Cruz Lucius to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. Lucius, 22, had 15 goals and 46 points in 36 games for Arizona State University (ASU) during the 2025-26 season, and he was one of the several prospect pieces acquired in the deal that sent star winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the 2024 NHL trade deadline.
Back on Apr. 2, Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said on The GM Show with Josh Getzoff that Lucius informed the organization that he did not intend to sign with them. After that, it was only a matter of time before Lucius would be on his way out the door.
“Right after the trade deadline, [his agent] informed us that he was not going to be signing in Pittsburgh for a few reasons," Dubas said on the show. "That is up to him to share. It’s a personal thing for him. But obviously, we felt we had a great opportunity for him. And obviously, the proof is in the pudding on the development side."
Dubas added: “But players are entitled to make their decision. And I don’t think we’re ata position here anymore where we have to beg people to come. So, when it comes to his decision making on it, then I think passing up a chance to get into the American League and developing over here.. that’s his decision and his right. And we’ll just move on to the next.”
Lucius was one of many pieces coming back from Carolina for Guentzel in 2024, with the other pieces being forward Michael Bunting, forward prospects Ville Koivunen and Vasily Ponomarev, and a second-round pick that was used to select defenseman Harrison Brunicke, who is now one of the organization's best prospects.
As of Aug. 15, Lucius was eligible to become an unrestricted NCAA free agent, should he have completed the necessary paperwork and submitted it to the NHL Central Registry. In 125 career NCAA games split between the University of Wisconsin and ASU, Lucius had 41 goals and 124 points.
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