Penguins Unlikely to Buyout Mikael Granlund
It seems as though Kyle Dubas will not buy anyone out of their contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When the NHL’s buyout period opened, everyone sat waiting patiently for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins to cut ties with one of the most predicted buyouts in the league.
Mikael Granlund did not have a great start to his Penguins’ tenure with only a single garbage time goal in 21 games.
With a $5 million cap hit for the next two seasons, the immediate savings seemed too good to pass by.
Dubas, however, thinks differently; according to the new president of hockey operations in Pittsburgh, he finds buyouts as a ‘last resort’ option, and the Penguins aren’t there, yet.
With that kind of mindset in the front office, it seems unlikely that popular candidates will be bought out of their contracts in Pittsburgh.
That doesn’t mean players like Granlund, Jeff Petry, or Jan Rutta will stick around, but Dubas will be hesitant to utilize a buyout.
Dubas believes that are other, more creative ways to rid a team of problem contracts.
If the Penguins are to lose Granlund or other popular buyout options, it will likely come in the form of a trade, and Dubas won’t shy away from that.
During his pre-draft press conference, he said that he is willing to trade either up or down at the draft and wants to acquire more talent throughout the lineup.
If a big acquisition is made by Dubas this summer, it will likely come in the form of a trade rather than a free agent signing.
The Penguins have cap space to work with, even without buying player out, and Dubas finds that to be a good thing.
Granlund’s contract is still a mess to have on the books, but a buyout doesn’t seem to be in his future with the Penguins.
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