When I spoke with Kyle Dubas while in Buffalo last month, he said that he would "do what's right for the Penguins and for the development of all of the goaltenders," though there wasn't necessarily a need to alleviate the logjam in net throughout the system.
"I think we showed last year that we are willing to give the younger guys great runway," Dubas told me at the time. "It's important that we develop them, and there are a lot of games between the two levels that need to be played. All the young guys will get a great chance coming out of camp if everybody's healthy."
Well, those young goaltenders will certainly get a chance.
The Penguins on Tuesday traded Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks for a 2028 third-round pick. The trade gives them nine selections in the 2028 NHL Draft – their original seven picks (one in each round) plus San Jose’s third- and fifth-round selections. The fifth-rounder from San Jose was previously acquired in the Vincent Desharnais trade.
The Penguins now have 28 draft picks over the next three NHL drafts, including 16 picks in the first three rounds.
The pick provides a boost toward the prospect pool in the distant future. But now, it provides a boost for the Penguins' young goaltenders: Barring further moves, one of them will be in the NHL.
Aside from Tristan Jarry, the Penguins have Joel Blomqvist, Sergei Murashov and Filip Larsson under contract in net for next season, after letting Taylor Gauthier walk in free agency.
Dubas said in his season-ending media availability that he expects a "robust competition come camp" in net.
"There's two young guys that are going to be pushing," Dubas said, referring to Blomqvist and Murashov. "Those guys are going to be given every opportunity to win jobs as well."
Blomqvist, with more experience in North America under his belt and already some NHL games last season, would seemingly have the edge going into camp between the two. Regardless of which goaltender earns the spot out of camp, it would create another big opportunity for the one in Wilkes-Barre, who would have a clear shot at the No. 1 starting job at that level.
THE ASYLUM
Nedeljkovic traded to Sharks
When I spoke with Kyle Dubas while in Buffalo last month, he said that he would "do what's right for the Penguins and for the development of all of the goaltenders," though there wasn't necessarily a need to alleviate the logjam in net throughout the system.
"I think we showed last year that we are willing to give the younger guys great runway," Dubas told me at the time. "It's important that we develop them, and there are a lot of games between the two levels that need to be played. All the young guys will get a great chance coming out of camp if everybody's healthy."
Well, those young goaltenders will certainly get a chance.
The Penguins on Tuesday traded Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks for a 2028 third-round pick. The trade gives them nine selections in the 2028 NHL Draft – their original seven picks (one in each round) plus San Jose’s third- and fifth-round selections. The fifth-rounder from San Jose was previously acquired in the Vincent Desharnais trade.
The Penguins now have 28 draft picks over the next three NHL drafts, including 16 picks in the first three rounds.
The pick provides a boost toward the prospect pool in the distant future. But now, it provides a boost for the Penguins' young goaltenders: Barring further moves, one of them will be in the NHL.
Aside from Tristan Jarry, the Penguins have Joel Blomqvist, Sergei Murashov and Filip Larsson under contract in net for next season, after letting Taylor Gauthier walk in free agency.
Dubas said in his season-ending media availability that he expects a "robust competition come camp" in net.
"There's two young guys that are going to be pushing," Dubas said, referring to Blomqvist and Murashov. "Those guys are going to be given every opportunity to win jobs as well."
Blomqvist, with more experience in North America under his belt and already some NHL games last season, would seemingly have the edge going into camp between the two. Regardless of which goaltender earns the spot out of camp, it would create another big opportunity for the one in Wilkes-Barre, who would have a clear shot at the No. 1 starting job at that level.
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