Big Week Lies Ahead for the Penguins
The rubber meets the road for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the NHL offseason heats up.
It has been a slow start to the offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The immediate removal of their management team, led by Ron Hextall, and the subsequent search for a new one, which resulted in the arrival of Kyle Dubas as President of Hockey Ops, slowed an already quiet offseason for the team on the ice.
In three weeks since joining the Penguins, Dubas has made one signing and hired assistant general manager Jason Spezza, but those bits of business were just breadcrumbs compared to what he faces this week.
Dubas got the ball rolling by adding to his front office with the hiring of Vukie Mpofu.
NHL Awards (Monday - 8:00pm Eastern)
The week kicks off with the NHL Awards in Nashville this evening. Kris Letang is the only member of the Penguins to be nominated for an award this season. He is one of three finalists for the NHL's Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player that best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Letang has been a champion of those three pillars his entire career, but all three were tested this season after suffering his second stroke and losing his father, Claude, within six weeks. The Penguins franchise defenseman not only returned to play but played with a spirit and desire that shined the remainder of the season.
NHL Draft (1st Round Begins Wednesday - 7:00pm Eastern)
The meat of this week's sandwich is the 2023 NHL Draft, which will also be held in Nashville this year. The Penguins hold the 14th overall pick in this year's draft, which would be the highest they have selected since drafting Derrick Pouliot at eighth overall in 2012.
Last Friday, Dubas quelled any belief that he could trade that pick to shed salary but left open the possibility that he would acquire a "very impactful younger player" for that selection if one should become available, as well as the possibility of moving up or down the draft board once the draft is underway.
Qualifying Offer Deadline (Friday - 5:00pm Eastern)
Friday's qualifying offer deadline refers to the Penguins' deadline to either sign or extend a qualifying offer to restricted free agents to retain that players' negotiating rights. If the Penguins don't make an offer by the deadline, that player will be eligible to hit the open market on Saturday, July 1st, and sign with any team he chooses.
The Penguins have eight restricted free agents remaining this offseason, including Ryan Poehling, Drew O'Connor, and Ty Smith.
NHL Free Agency Opens (Saturday - 12:00pm Eastern)
The headline of the NHL offseason, the opening of free agency, will take place this Saturday. The Penguins currently have needs at goaltender, left defense, middle-six left winger and practically every bottom-six position.
Dubas didn't shed much light on any negotiations he has been having with the Penguins' upcoming unrestricted free agents (Tristan Jarry, Brian Dumoulin, Jason Zucker) other than to say that they are having discussions with all three.
The next Stanley Cup may be awarded next June, but this week will lay the groundwork for every team looking to win.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsKy3P4n5qw[/embed]
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more!
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins