Despite aggressive efforts to be competitive last year, including but not limited to acquiring D Erik Karlsson via trade, the Pittsburgh Penguins ultimately missed the postseason for the second campaign in a row in 2023–24. Now, general manager Kyle Dubas and the rest of the brain trust are grappling with how to maximize this squad while the window remains open. So much hangs in the balance for them. How were his attempts at righting the ship this summer? Let’s take a look and see.

For the second summer in a row, C/RW Kevin Hayes was traded as a cap dump, with him this time heading to Pittsburgh along with a 2025 second rounder from St. Louis in exchange for the ever relevant Future Considerations. Hayes was already somewhat limited in his profile, not having much defense to provide as was at the front of the row between him and John Tortorella in Philadelphia. This year, however, he also saw a significant drop in offensive productivity, limiting his capacity even more – The one benefit this does have, however, is that he did have a great year on the draw last season and was a non-minus player for the first time since 2017–18. If this particular environment restores at least a fraction of Hayes’ usual form and he continues to be efficient on faceoffs, then that’ll be a solid return for surrendering nothing but cash. However, his season is definitely gonna have to defy some trends if it is going to be impactful. The best asset here might honestly be the draft stock in a deep class next year.

C Cody Glass was also acquired from Nashville alongside a 2025 3rd rounder (originally belonging to Minnesota) and a 2026 6th rounder in exchange for minor league C Jordan Frasca. I agree with The Hockey Writers’ Justin Giampietro’s assessment: While this is another situation wherein he could reinvent himself as a depth option in this new locale, his impacts are sub-NHL level when looking at his relative xGF figures. Combine that with the fact that they will probably let him go for nothing and mid-round selections are very long odds to make the NHL, this most likely will be a nothing trade, at best.

D’s Matt Grzelcyk and Sebastian Aho (the latter now formerly of the NYI variety) were acquired in an attempt to shore up the defensive core. The former, a career Boston Bruin to this point, was given a 1x$2.8M deal and has things to contribute in 5v5 offense, puck movement, and transition, but has struggled to maintain a fixed position in a top four role (though does have experience playing alongside an elite defensive talent in Charlie McAvoy) and has considerable holes in his game. The Swedish blueliner, the less famous of the two name twins between he and his Finnish namesake down in Raleigh, is volatile as a bottom-pairing D but has some impressive WAR peaks. If they get the best version of him, it’ll certainly be an asset to the team’s depth. A couple of bottom of the forward depth pickups in Blake Lizotte and Anthony Beauvillier were also made. Overall, Dubas scaled back the aggression here (probably wisely) and tried to address holes in the lower parts of the forward and blueline cores, but if he moved the needle, it was fairly minimally so.

The best move of the summer might actually have been the prospect swap that featured Pittsburgh sending F Brayden Yager to Winnipeg for F Rutger McGroarty. Neither player is going to be a franchise cornerstone; however, acquiring a player with a higher star probability in a one-for-one deal was a great capitalizing on the McGroarty situation by Dubas. They needed a higher caliber prospect and they got him by swooping in on that quagmire.

Sans a first round pick due to the Karlsson trade and the selection falling outside the top 10, the Penguins did alright for themselves despite that, with a very impressive day two. Chris Peters is very high on selections D Harrison Brunicke (CHL: WHL – Kamloops Blazers), LW Tanner Howe (CHL: WHL – Regina Pats), D Joona Väisänen (USHL: Dubuque Fighting Saints), and one I share enthusiasm with: LW/C Mac Swanson (USHL: Fargo Force, committed to U of North Dakota). I have sung the praises of the talented, undersized player (who was pivotal to Fargo’s second Clark Cup win this past year as both regular season and postseason MVP) on multiple occasions (see: here and here). He’s not only a master of hand and foot work, but sturdy and it’s a significant part of his dominance at the junior level and I imagine he’ll be quite good in college, as well. I had a feeling, considering the ambitiousness of Dubas to take chances on those kinds of players, that he was going to go for it once he was still available in the final round. If he’s the lowest selected player in this class to have a productive pro career, I won’t be surprised.

I am somewhat weary of the fact that C Sidney Crosby, who in my view trails only Mario Lemieux as the most important figure in team history and only by the slimmest of margins, remains un-extended at this point. The longer this matter takes, the more skepticism will abound. I won’t read too much into it, however. What I will say is that it does make sense that Pittsburgh was a bit more subdued this summer and it might’ve been even for the best. However, as JFresh points out, the money that they did spend could’ve perhaps been used more efficiently and effectively without going too far (with possibly the two remaining spots being filled by rookies). That said, some of the machinations by Dubas were very good. The McGroarty trade was excellent and he and the draft room did about as good as you can do without a first round pick, including acquiring a fantastic diamond in the rough in round seven. With that in mind, a B- grade for the Penguins seems appropriate here. They may not have changed a lot, but maybe better health and just a bit more stability, if nothing else, in the bottom four and bottom six will serve them well. The prospectus for the club for after the Crosby/Letang/Malkin era ends also looks a bit better this summer, which can only be a good thing.