John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Kyle Dubas' Top Priority Signing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Revealed

Originally posted on Hockey Unplugged
By Graham Montgomery | Last updated Mar 23, 2025 4:32 PM ET

One of the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman has emerged as a key player to re-sign this summer.

The Penguins defense core has seen many changes throughout the season as head coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Kyle Dubas work together to put the best team possible on the ice each night.

Sullivan has done his part, experimenting with his defense pairs, while Dubas takes care of the roster.

At the trade deadline, Dubas gave Sullivan some backup on the blueline, adding Conor Timmins in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But now with the regular season wrapping up, it is time to start looking towards the future in Pittsburgh.

The team technically is still in the playoff race, but more likely than not, it will be another early offseason for Sidney Crosby and his teammates.

As such, Kyle Dubas needs to start planning for next year's team, and one of his current defenseman could be a good fit again.

That would be veteran blueliner Matt Grzelcyk, who is on an expiring deal. As NHL reporter Josh Cybulski points out, he could be a solid veteran presence on a rebuilding team next year.

'He's become an important piece of the Penguins' defense core, and the team opted to hang onto him rather than move him at the NHL Trade Deadline. Grzelcyk's veteran presence has mentored some of Pittsburgh's younger players and could be valuable during a re-tool.'

However, Dubas would likely have to offer him a serious contract as the 31-year-old has set a new career high in points this year with 32.

'While a short-term deal would suit Pittsburgh, it likely wouldn't be Grzelcyk's preferred outcome. The Charlestown, Massachusetts native has rebounded this season and could be looking at his last opportunity to cash in a lucrative contract. Playing under a one-year, $2.75MM deal that he signed in free agency last summer, it's not hard to imagine him receiving three-year offers this upcoming summer with an increased salary cap and very few options available.'

Regardless, with the increasing salary cap, it shouldn't be too difficult to fit him into the team's plans for the next couple of seasons.

This article first appeared on Hockey Unplugged and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: