Kyle Dubas spoke today at an introductory press conference with members of the Penguins’ 2025 draft class today.

The Penguins are holding an introductory press conference with the 2025 Draft Class beginning at 12 PM.

Stream: https://t.co/sl8AnlqxqC

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 30, 2025

In addition to the platitudes and introduction of the newest, youngest Penguins, Dubas mentioned that Pittsburgh chose to not qualify three players ahead of today’s 5:00pm deadline. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Emil Bemstrom and Taylor Gauthier will become unrestricted free agents tomorrow after not getting a QO from the Pens.

Dubas indicated the team is still in talks with Phil Tomasino and Connor Dewar. The Pens will qualify Russian-signed Vasily Ponomarev to retain his NHL rights.

This will mark the second year in a row that Joseph was not qualified by Pittsburgh. Last summer he signed with St. Louis, only to be traded back to the Pens by mid-season.

Bemstrom, acquired from Columbus in 2024 for Alex Nylander, split time between the AHL and NHL last season, recording no goals and only one assist in 14 games in Pittsburgh.

Gauthier, 24, was an undrafted free agent that mostly toiled in the ECHL due to the organization’s depth at the goalie position.

Dubas also indicated that the Pens would turn loose their unrestricted free agents that included Matt Grzelcyk, Matt Nieto and several minor leaguers to at least venture into the open market tomorrow when their contracts expire.

Will the pending UFAs be free to hit the market on Tuesday?

Kyle Dubas: “Yeah. With our current strategy, we’re going to see what’s out there and see where we’re at.”

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 30, 2025

The NHL’s free agency period opens tomorrow at 12 noon eastern time. The Pens have upwards of $20 million in cap space (once dropping Joona Koppanen and Boko Imama from the Puck Pedia NHL roster outlook) but are not expected to be aggressive in signing players toward long-term or big money contracts in the free agent market.

Update: Looks like talks did not go well with Tomasino and Dewar, the team did not like the salary number both were seeking and opted to not qualify either. The door is still open for either or both to be signed by Pittsburgh at any time, however they both are set to become unrestricted free agents at 12 noon tomorrow.

The Penguins have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent forward Vasily Ponomarev.

The following players will not receive qualifying offers:
Raivis Ansons
Emil Bemstrom
Connor Dewar
Taylor Gauthier
P.O Joseph
Philip Tomasino

Details: https://t.co/micP5WalpS pic.twitter.com/3PMO9Q1sO2

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 30, 2025