Kyle Dubas understands why there are trade rumors surrounding his team, and he even gets why some stories, as far-fetched as they might be, gain steam. But, when it comes to rumors that the Pittsburgh Penguins are holding a “fire sale” and moving as many pieces as they can, it’s just “not accurate.”
Dubas was asked about the most recent trade speculation when he appeared on Josh Getzoff‘s ‘GM Show’ on the Penguins Radio Network. He denied rumors of a “fire sale” and any insinuation he’s making most of his players available ahead of the deadline.
A recent report suggested everyone was on the block, except Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Phil Tomasino, and Owen Pickering. While those players might not be on the table, it sounds like a few others aren’t either.
Dubas and the Penguins Not Changing Course
The Penguins still want to win. That much hasn’t changed. Things haven’t gone as they might have hoped, and that could dictate some of who is available, but to suggest almost everyone is on the table, or that the Penguins would be willing to retain salary on big contracts with term, that’s not happening.
Dubas noted:
“We’re trying to bring in younger NHL players, we’re trying to bring in prospects, and we’re trying to bring in draft picks, with the goal being to quickly develop those assets into people that can help the core group of the team here win one more time and then set the team up for the long-range future.”
He added, “That’s the goal, and that’s our ambition, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Laughing while he referred to the rumors of a ‘fire sale’ , he explained, “I understand how that stuff starts to get out and take on a life of its own, but it’s not accurate.” He says he’s had several conversations with other teams about trades, but this is not a situation where “everything must go.”
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