From Taylor Haase:
Dubas on Bunting, Desharnais trades, deadline outlook
Kyle Dubas on Wednesday took questions submitted via email following the trades of Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Predators for defenseman Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak, and Vincent Desharnais to the Sharks for a 2028 fifth-round pick.
On the motivation behind the trades: "We looked at the two trades in totality – Desharnais, Bunting and a pick for Novak, Schenn and a pick. The motivation being that Tommy was younger, under team control for an additional season over (Bunting), carried a lower cap charge and is primarily a center – we felt that carried a large amount of value as we move ahead here with our plans. As for Luke, his experience, leadership, toughness, and spirit will be a major benefit to helping the Penguins maintain standards and support our existing core as they help to lead us through this phase in our program’s evolution."
On what they like about Novak: "We like Tommy’s ability to control play, generate scoring chances for himself and others, and produce at even strength. Nashville did a great job with his development over the years and he blossomed into a very solid player for them. He has been on our priority list for a few years now here and we feel his mobility, playmaking and production as a center provides us a great option in the years ahead."
On if they intend on keeping Schenn or flipping him at the deadline or this summer: "We moved Vinny to San Jose in lock step with the Nashville trade because we feel that having Luke’s defensive play, character, leadership, toughness and spirit is something we need here to help push our program through this phase and preserve our culture and standards as we work to return to contention. We believe the way he plays and the way he carries himself each day will be very well received by Penguins fans and the City of Pittsburgh."
On why Bunting did not fit into the future plans here: "I wouldn’t say that that Bunts didn’t fit into our plans. As we know, I’ve got a long relationship with Bunts and think the world of him as a person and player. Last season he came in at a tough time, right when we had pivoted the Penguins from two decades of – rightfully – really going for it every season. His competitiveness and scoring was a key factor in the late season run for us here. After a tough start this season, he showed his usual resilience and rebounded for us. In the end, Bunts was obviously central to Nashville doing this deal and those are the difficult decisions you have to make in this chair. Regardless of personal feelings, we have to always do what’s in the best interest of the Pittsburgh Penguins."
On his view of the market ahead of the deadline: "This is one of the more unique markets that I’ve encountered leading up to the trade deadline. There’s a lot of parity and different strategies that contending teams have deployed, combined with teams that are out of the race being very clear that with the salary cap going up in in 2025-2026 and the two years beyond, that they plan to be aggressive with their acquisitions come July. Overall, I think we are positioned well over the next few days – but especially heading into the summer and beyond – to continue to execute our plan as we have been for the last 12 months and continue to work to return the Penguins back into contention as soon as possible."
