December 2, 2024 | 2:17pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

PENGUINS LOOKING FOR YOUNG, NHL-CALIBRE PLAYERS

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas

Winners of three straight, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been playing better hockey of late, but their recent successful stretch of games will not deviate GM Kyle Dubas from his plan to retool his roster.

The Penguins sit here points back of a playoff spot with a 10-12-4 record in the Eastern Conference and their overall performance has left many wondering when more changes will take place.

Last month, the Penguins moved out veteran centre Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for two draft picks, and then acquired 23-year-old forward Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators for a draft pick.

Dubas is still making and taking calls on a number of his players, including the likes of forwards Drew O’Connor, Rickard Rakell and Michael Bunting, and defencemen Marcus Pettersson and Matt Grzelcyk, among others. While the Penguins are looking to add draft picks for some of their players, Dubas has also been exploring the market more young, NHL-proven players in their early-20s to add to his roster.

The Penguins were among the teams highly interested in defenceman David Jiricek before the Columbus Blue Jackets traded him to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, two separate league sources confirmed to TFP. The Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks were some of the other teams also interested in Jiricek.

It is unclear whom the Penguins are currently targeting, though the team has been linked to Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander, who is believed to be on the trade block, while the Canucks are reportedly one of the teams interested in Pettersson.

Hoglander, 23, comes with a $1.1 million cap hit this season, though his new three-year, $9 million extension kicks in next season.