The Penguins return for Tristan Jarry continues to grow after the latest trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins have come under heavy scrutiny for the way they handled their realignment over the past two seasons. However, after their latest trade, it feels like general manager Kyle Dubas is finally getting some credit for what he’s building.

In December, he traded Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Brett Kulak, Stuart Skinner and a 2029 second-round draft pick. When the deal was first announced, social media tore it up. However, as the season progressed, the return started to look better. Today he added another layer to the trading tree. He sent Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick.

Now Penguins fans are excited about the trade and wondering what else Dubas could have planned as we get closer to the March 6 trade deadline.

Jarry Return continues to grow

As mentioned, returns for Jarry continue to grow. After turning Kulak to Girard and another second-rounder, Fans are wondering what the next step could be. The Penguins are now holding their own 25 draft picks over the next three NHL drafts. Of these, 16 are in the first three rounds. Those choices could easily become part of another deal. If Dubas decides the time is right, he can use them to further strengthen the roster.

Currently, the Penguins are second in the Metropolitan Division and appear to be on their way to a playoff spot. That makes the approaching deadline even more intriguing. With that kind of draft capital and teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs potentially selling, you can’t help but wonder what Dubas might be exploring. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he quietly lays the groundwork for something bigger in the coming weeks.

It also highlights how focused this front office has been on accumulating draft capital. They’ve worked to add talent that will help immediately while still prioritizing depth in the draft. We see that this approach is paying off, with candidates such as Ben Kindel, who has had a strong season. If Dubas and the Penguins choose to hold on to some of those picks, there’s a legitimate chance a few become impactful NHL players. Dating back to his early years with the Maple Leafs, Dubas has shown that he can draft well. That’s what makes this version of the Penguins retool so interesting.

Next: Nazem Kadri looking to trade: Team already moving pieces for big swing?