Dubas: Team lacked 'assets' to get in on big trades
Kyle Dubas entered draft weekend hoping to land the type of young NHL player in a trade who could help bridge the gap between the Penguins' aging core and the next wave of prospects.
But the price of doing business has continued to climb around the NHL
Speaking after the team selected Liam Ruck with the 22nd overall pick in the draft on Friday night, Dubas acknowledged that several of the young NHL players Pittsburgh had interest in were ultimately acquired for prices he simply wasn't in position to match.
"I think in some of them we just really haven't had the assets to get there," Dubas said. "If you go through the younger guys that have been traded, it was a fourth overall pick (in the Bowen Byram trade). The Florida-Ottawa trade was the ninth overall pick. We were at 22."
Even beyond trades involving draft assets, Dubas said many of their conversations hit another roadblock.
"What we found in this last stretch is that the teams also want the exact guys that we're looking for in exchange in those deals," he said. "It's players in that group that we lack."
Rather than force a move, Dubas indicated the Penguins will continue building slowly, much like they have over the past year.
"It's a shifting landscape, Dubas said. "It might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We'll try to stay active on those (deals for young players), but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style."
The Penguins haven't abandoned their search for the impact player Dubas identified in his season-ending press conference. He reiterated Friday that adding a difference-maker in his mid-20s remains a priority.
"We'll continue to stay involved in all those discussions and see where it lands," Dubas said. "We'd love to have it done already, but it might be something that's later in the summer, in the year, or next summer, but we'll stay after it for sure."
That idea also extend to free agency, where Dubas made it clear he has no interest in handing out big contracts simply because July 1 arrives. Asked whether the Penguins could become more aggressive in free agency if they don't make a significant trade in the coming days, Dubas cautioned against chasing expensive contracts in a weak market.
"You can be as aggressive as you want on July 1, but if you look at what's available, it could be an expensive mistake," Dubas said, chuckling. "I try to learn from the past, and we'll try to steer clear of that."
Instead, Dubas said he'd rather make no major move than one he believes hurts the organization down the road.
"Rather than just do something for the sake of doing it, I'd rather come here and say, yeah, we aspired to do it, and the options weren't there, and so we've had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have."
THE ASYLUM
Dubas: Team lacked 'assets' to get in on big trades
Kyle Dubas entered draft weekend hoping to land the type of young NHL player in a trade who could help bridge the gap between the Penguins' aging core and the next wave of prospects.
But the price of doing business has continued to climb around the NHL
Speaking after the team selected Liam Ruck with the 22nd overall pick in the draft on Friday night, Dubas acknowledged that several of the young NHL players Pittsburgh had interest in were ultimately acquired for prices he simply wasn't in position to match.
"I think in some of them we just really haven't had the assets to get there," Dubas said. "If you go through the younger guys that have been traded, it was a fourth overall pick (in the Bowen Byram trade). The Florida-Ottawa trade was the ninth overall pick. We were at 22."
Even beyond trades involving draft assets, Dubas said many of their conversations hit another roadblock.
"What we found in this last stretch is that the teams also want the exact guys that we're looking for in exchange in those deals," he said. "It's players in that group that we lack."
Rather than force a move, Dubas indicated the Penguins will continue building slowly, much like they have over the past year.
"It's a shifting landscape, Dubas said. "It might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We'll try to stay active on those (deals for young players), but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style."
The Penguins haven't abandoned their search for the impact player Dubas identified in his season-ending press conference. He reiterated Friday that adding a difference-maker in his mid-20s remains a priority.
"We'll continue to stay involved in all those discussions and see where it lands," Dubas said. "We'd love to have it done already, but it might be something that's later in the summer, in the year, or next summer, but we'll stay after it for sure."
That idea also extend to free agency, where Dubas made it clear he has no interest in handing out big contracts simply because July 1 arrives. Asked whether the Penguins could become more aggressive in free agency if they don't make a significant trade in the coming days, Dubas cautioned against chasing expensive contracts in a weak market.
"You can be as aggressive as you want on July 1, but if you look at what's available, it could be an expensive mistake," Dubas said, chuckling. "I try to learn from the past, and we'll try to steer clear of that."
Instead, Dubas said he'd rather make no major move than one he believes hurts the organization down the road.
"Rather than just do something for the sake of doing it, I'd rather come here and say, yeah, we aspired to do it, and the options weren't there, and so we've had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!