Simple question for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Very complicated answer.

While the Penguins might justifiably look at several games they have lost which should have been wins, and those now outnumber the reverse this season, if they had been asked before training camp if a 10-5-4 record would be acceptable, the overwhelming bet would be on yes.

The Penguins have gone from Gavin McKenna talk (now Keaton Verhoef) as a symbol of chasing the top overall draft pick to tacit acceptance that making the Stanley Cup Playoffs is now a tangible goal.

Daydream believers are a week away from legitimate talk as the standings on American Thanksgiving have proven to be a strong predictor of season outcomes.

The Penguins are a win or two away from being solidly in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving.

But how will that affect general manager Kyle Dubas and his plans?

We weren’t able to get to all of the questions on the most recent No Pucks Given podcast, as several good queries arrived after we finished recording, but they bear discussion. Here.

Penguins Q&A

If the Penguins are comfortably in the top 3 of the Metropolitan Division by the end of February. Do you think the Penguins would trade prospects, picks, or roster players for a player under 30 with term who still fits Dubas’ short to long-term plan?

— The Igloo Report (@IglooReport) November 17, 2025

Great question. The answer is nuanced and, pending your perspective, a yes or a no. Let me explain.

Yes, winning will necessarily change Dubas’s thinking, but it will not alter the rebuild in any substantial way. It just can’t, and Dubas has shown no If Dubas were to alter course now, it would stall his progress and probably lead to some much darker days ahead.

But the Penguins do have three second-rounders, including the anemic St. Louis Blues’ pick, their own, and the Winnipeg Jets. In other words, current projections show them to have a second-rounder that will be close to a first-rounder, a middle second, and a late second.

They also have the San Jose Sharks ‘ third-rounder, which should be in the 60s, and their own.

Not bad, eh? Just one of those second picks could buy a solid free-agent rental forward. Maybe a second-rounder could buy an older, very serviceable left-handed defenseman. After all, that’s what the Penguins received for Luke Schenn from Winnipeg.

But don’t expect Dubas to go on a wild shopping spree. One, maybe two affordable veterans whose price might fall due to their higher salaries that most teams can’t afford, is entirely possible.

Salary cap space won’t be a big issue for the Penguins, who have $9.8 million and counting in cap space. There won’t be more than a couple of other potential playoff teams with that much space.

How about a Boone Jenner type? Maybe Blake Coleman or Jayden Schwartz? Though I will freely admit, the price on Jenner or Coleman might quickly rise to include a first-round pick.

Of course, the Penguins’ first-round pick is, and must be, off limits in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

Before you ask, the veterans I would avoid are Jonathan Marchessault (too enigmatic and is signed for three seasons beyond this one), Brayden Schenn (too expensive, doesn’t fit unless the Penguins suffer an injury to Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin), and Steve Stamkos (age is catching him quickly, and he has two years remaining on his contract).

But I do love Marchessault. He was a treat to cover in the 2023 VGK Cup run. Totally unfiltered and just the right amount of quirky.

Is brunicke going to the ahl? And if so, what comes after? If he plays in wj’s, can he be brought back to the show this season, or finish it out in kamloops? I don’t quite understand all the rules and his case seems very nuanced

— Scott 🇨🇦 🍁 (@InkerScott) November 18, 2025

OK, I feel like I’ve written thousands of words on this (oh, wait, I HAVE!).

But for the genuine question comes a genuine answer. First, read this on the Penguins’ options and rules governing the Brunicke decision.

First, Brunicke will remain with the team through this coming weekend, per Dubas on his team’s hosted radio show.

Yes, it is almost assured that Brunicke will spend his 14 days in the AHL. However, when is a matter of long-term planning. He can do it now and be ready for the World Juniors. Team Canada begins playing exhibitions on Dec. 17, and the tournament begins a week later.

Or, he can spend his 14 days in the AHL AFTER the World Juniors and be ready for the rest of the NHL season. The point of no return is Jan. 3, which is when the Penguins play the Detroit Red Wings. That is the Penguins’ 40th game, and after which, they cannot send him back to Kamloops of the WHL.

So, if they want to keep their options open, they can send him down soon, send him to Team Canada, then make their determination during the WJC, or they can make their decision to keep him and use his 14-day conditioning assignment in mid-January.

If Kamloops doesn’t make the playoffs, the WHL season ends on March 20, at which point, Brunicke could be assigned to the AHL on a full-time basis.

Learn it. Know it. Live it.

If anyone asks again, you’re going to get the Honey Mustard response.

Tags: harrison brunicke kyle dubas Penguins Trade Pittsburgh Penguins

Categorized: PHN Blog