The first year at the helm of the Penguins for Dubas, was one where he really wanted to help the core three win but there were mistakes. He decided to give Jarry a 5-year 26.875-million-dollar contract and Ryan Graves a 6-year 27-million-dollar contract. Those have proven to be massive mistakes as Graves plays sheltered bottom pairing minutes on defense and Jarry currently plays for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
Dubas needs to do whatever he can to get out of these contracts this summer by either waiving them completely or finding a trade partner and adding sweeteners.
It will not be easy to trade either player
Trying to trade one of Jarry or Graves or trying to trade both players is going to be a seriously tall task. No team is going to want to take on those contracts without retention or without sweetners being attached to them.
It is clearly telling that these two players are not parts of the Penguins future and the Penguins need the money from their contracts to be able to go after some young players and rebuild the roster.
There are some teams with defensive needs and goaltending needs but when Jarry was placed on waivers earlier in the year, nobody claimed him and it was telling as to why. The same will likely be said for Graves if he is placed on waivers in the future.
The Penguins should be trusting in Dubas to get out of at least one of the two's contracts
The Penguins seem to be really set for the future with a bunch of picks in total in the next three NHL drafts, and the acquiring of Tomasino, and signing a young Lizotte to a 2-year deal.
Dubas is doing this the right way and the Penguins and their fans should really trust Dubas to be able to get out of one of Ryan Graves or Tristan Jarry.
Dubas was able to get out of the contracts of Jan Rutta, Casey DeSmith, Mikael Granlund, and Jeff Petry when trading for Erik Karlsson a few seasons ago.
If Dubas can get out of all four of those contracts that were ugly ones, he can find a way to get out of one if not both of Jarry and Graves.