The 2025 NHL Draft has now wrapped up officially, and Kyle Dubas has some important decisions to make ahead of July 1, NHL Free Agency with many of question marks on how he will approach free agency.
Before the draft wrapped up, Kyle Dubas spoke one on one with E.J. Hradek of the NHL Network and spoke on many key things that have transpired within the last 24 hours but also looking ahead. Why they decided to move up and draft Will Horcoff, why he traded pick 12, and another big piece of the interview was on his plan heading into July 1, and why last year is nowhere near the same with the rising cap this year,
General manager of the @penguins Kyle Dubas has been one of the more active GMs this weekend, and he joins @EJHradek_NHL to talk about his #NHLDraft. pic.twitter.com/7IkO3fmBtH
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 28, 2025
Dubas stated that with cap floor not being as flat as it used to be and the cap only more on the rise, his plan of acquiring talent from cap strapped team isn't as common this season
""With the cap going up has meant more teams retaining their talent rather than being squeezed into making trades like in the past. Hence, why there has been less action.""Kyle Dubas on NHL Network
Dubas also spoke on how he will address the Penguins needs heading into free agency as they continue to acquire more assets to flip at the trade deadline like the Connor Clifton trade this afternoon. The Dubas plan is still in full force despite some setbacks with the rising cap.
""I think our back end needs to be fixed & will be going after multiple guys that never got a chance, rather than that one typical big fish""Kyle Dubas on Free Agency Plans
A prime example Dubas missed out on was Jordan Spence, 24 year old RHD from the LA Kings who was shipped off to the Ottawa Senators for practically peanuts. Spence had great underlying success last season with the Kings but LA needed to clear some cap and they did that by moving Spence.
TRADE: We have acquired defenceman Jordan Spence from the LA Kings in exchange for the 67th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and a 2026 6th round pick (acquired from Colorado).
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) June 28, 2025
Les #Sens font l'acquisition du défenseur Jordan Spence, de Los Angeles, en échange de deux… pic.twitter.com/de5jxKJNAG
Only time will tell on how Kyle Dubas turns the rest of this off-season into any team success heading into this team's future. However for right now, Kyle's next steps should be on improving the back end of this team and supplying it with youth. The likes of Harrison Brunicke, Owen Pickering and Vladislav Kolyachonok will be prime candidates to fill that role of youth on the back end, come opening night for the Pittsburgh Penguins.