The Quinn Hughes saga has taken an unbelievable number of twists and turns. Pundits around the league have linked Hughes to just about every club in the NHL. In particular, the Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten more than their fair share of attention.
But as a recent report confirms, the Penguins will not be pursuing the superstar blueliner. Veteran insider James Murphy of RG Media confirmed that the Pens will be focusing more on a rebuild than going after Hughes.
An anonymous source close to the Penguins confirmed that Hughes doesn’t fit GM Kyle Dubas’ plans at the moment. The source stated:
“They’re not going after him right now. Kyle [Dubas] has built a stable of prospects. Some – Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke – are arriving maybe earlier than expected, and others are on the way, but that’s not going to change Kyle’s plan. Neither will their place in the standings. They will add for sure if they’re still in contention later, but they’re still in a rebuild, and to be honest, it’s not a fit for what Hughes wants either.”
The chatter involving the Penguins and Hughes picked up when insider Elliotte Friedman floated that the Penguins had the pieces the Canucks would want in return for Hughes. While that may be true, the fact is that the Penguins are in the midst of a rebuild.
So, is joining a rebuild something Hughes would be keen on? If that were the case, well, he might as well just stay in Vancouver.
Penguins Have Help Arriving on the Blue Line
The Penguins already have a big-ticket blueliner in Erik Karlsson. Karlsson and his onerous contract have been the subject of plenty of trade speculation. However, the Penguins have had an unusually hard time finding suitors for the three-time Norris Trophy winner.
Beyond Karlsson and an aging Kris Letang, prospects Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel promise to usher in a new era for the Penguins. Both players have made their way to the NHL this season, ahead of expectations.
So, would it make sense for the Penguins to potentially send one of their prospects to Vancouver for Hughes?
It would if the Penguins were close to Stanley Cup contention. Unfortunately, they are not. While this season has gone much better than anticipated, the Pens are nowhere near a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Hughes Could Make Sense in Free Agency
The Penguins are likely among the teams keeping tabs on Hughes’ contract extension. The star blueliner is set to become a UFA in 2027. If he goes to market, the Penguins, along with just about every team in the NHL, will want to make a pitch for his services.
At that point, Hughes would make a lot more sense for the Penguins. The team could be in a much better position in the standings. Plus, the club will have shed Karlsson’s monstrous cap hit. That extra money could go a long way towards signing Hughes.
Assuming Sidney Crosby could have retired by then, Hughes would be on track to become the face of the franchise. That’s something that might entice Hughes a lot more than joining the rebuild at this point.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Penguins Focused on Rebuild, Not Star D-Man: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.