Dubas addresses Crosby's contract and outlines team plans for the upcoming year

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Gabriel Sami
June 9, 2024 (8:50 PM)

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Pittsburgh Penguins' General Manager Kyle Dubas is orchestrating a discreet approach to contract negotiations with star player Sidney Crosby.

At the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine, Dubas revealed their strategy, aiming to minimize distractions while ensuring the significance of Crosby's role is acknowledged. Dubas emphasized confidentiality, hinting at an extension for Crosby beyond the 2024-25 season, with details to be finalized post-July 1st.

«The key for us is, because of the importance of it and how much Sid means to the organization and the city, we want to keep that as quiet as possible and go through it,» Dubas said Saturday while attending the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine. «And then hopefully as we get through this summer, get a sense where everybody's at and then let everybody know at the right time.»

Crosby, nearing his 20th NHL season, desires to continue with the Penguins, though specifics remain uncertain. Dubas' cautious approach, echoed by Crosby's camp, implies a deliberate silence until the agreement's revelation.

In financial terms, Crosby's next contract prompts intrigue. With the NHL's salary cap swelling to $88.0 million in 2024-25, projections suggest a cap hit around $13.35 million, although Crosby's solidarity could see him accept less.

Dubas also discussed his strategies for team construction during the offseason.

«I think the thing that I've really learned in the year is that we really have to do everything we can as urgently as possible to infuse the organization with really high-quality younger players and give ourselves a chance to add that by adding draft picks, adding prospects in any chance we can get,» Dubas said. «Because if we can do that, while those players are still playing, that standard [core of] Sid, 'Geno,' Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust set, that just helps young players come in and get up to speed quicker.»

The Penguins have long been recognized for their aging core, but Dubas is actively rejuvenating the team with younger talent. Acquisitions like Jesse Puljujarvi (26), Emil Bemstrom (25), and John Ludvig (24) showcase his efforts within his first year in Pittsburgh. Additionally, internal prospects such as Drew O'Connor (26), Valtteri Puustinen (25), and Jack St. Ivany (25) are assuming larger roles within the organization.

Further bolstering their youth movement are prospects like Sam Poulin, Vasiliy Ponomarev, and Ville Koivunen, acquired in trades like the one involving Jake Guentzel. With hopes pinned on emerging talents in the 21-23 age bracket, the Penguins anticipate a seamless transition as their rejuvenation efforts gain momentum.

«The major focus for us is on right now acquiring as many young players, as many prospects and as many draft picks as we can to try to infuse the team with really good young talent, young players and then have that stocked up for the future as well and attempt to get us back into contention as quickly as we can,» Dubas said.

With their initial two picks in the upcoming draft, Pittsburgh aims to fortify their roster with long-term prospects, potentially addressing gaps in scoring forwards and defensive positions. Concurrently, the team has initiated the process of transitioning towards a younger lineup.

Chad Ruhwedel's departure at the deadline paved the way for emerging talents like St. Ivany to seize NHL opportunities. Jeff Carter's retirement signals a natural shift towards a younger roster, with replacements likely to be of a younger demographic. Additionally, seasoned veteran Reilly Smith's availability for trade presents another avenue for Pittsburgh to inject youth into their lineup.

Source: Pensburgh
Dubas talks about Crosby's next contract, team plans for next year

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JUIN 9 \| 136 ANSWERS Dubas addresses Crosby's contract and outlines team plans for the upcoming year Should Pittsburgh Penguins' General Manager Kyle Dubas prioritize confidentiality in contract negotiations with Sidney Crosby?
Yes	116	85.3 %
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