NHL Trade Rumors: Insider believes Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to consider offers for $92,000,000 defenseman

When Kyle Dubas became the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he knew it would be no easy task. After missing the playoffs by one point in his inaugural season in Pittsburgh, the Penguins appear to be on the outside looking in again this year.

The team's 2024-25 campaign has been ridiculously up and down. They've struggled to find consistency and currently sit sixth in the Metropolitan division with an 18-20-8 record (44 points), four points out of a playoff spot.

Dubas has been attempting to reshape the Penguins' roster by adding youth and trading away veterans like Jake Guentzel, Rielly Smith and Lars Eller. He could be forced to do more of the same moving forward.

Pittsburgh Penguins reporter Josh Yohe was asked about how Dubas will handle star defenseman Erik Karlsson's potential trade.

"GMs always talk about players and publicize certain things when they feel it can be helpful," Yohe wrote. "I’m sure he’ll consider trading Karlsson if he gets a reasonable offer. That said, Karlsson is playing so much better at the moment that the trade with San Jose hardly feels like a disaster. Rather, it’s upgraded to merely a disappointment."

Karlsson is in the sixth season of his eight-year, $92 million contract he signed in 2019. The Sharks are retaining $1.5 million of the 34-year-old's salary per season as a part of the trade that sent him to Pittsburgh in 2023. While Dubas may be willing to move the star defenseman, his large contract will make it difficult.

Kyle Dubas places goaltender Tristan Jarry on waivers

Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins made headlines around the NHL on Wednesday when they announced that Tristan Jarry would be placed on waivers later.

The 28-year-old goaltender inked a five-year, $26.88 million agreement on July 1, 2023. Jarry's play has deteriorated since signing the contract, leaving the organization with little choice except to waive him.

His numbers this season have been especially poor. Jarry has gone 8-8-4, with a 3.31 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage.

The Pens will look to get back in the win column in Buffalo on Friday night. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST at KeyBank Center.