Yohe: Dubas’ plan as free agency opens

It’s becoming clear that Kyle Dubas is valuing future assets above all else these days.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, however, are still going to spend to the salary cap. They’re almost there, anyway.

A plan for the opening days of the NHL’s free agency period has emerged.

Dubas is very eager to find a left wing for Sidney Crosby. The Penguins are perfectly fine on the right side with wingers Bryan Rust —who is Crosby’s preferred right wing — and Rickard Rakell, whom the Penguins hope will bounce back from a disappointing season.

The left side, however, is a different matter.

Michael Bunting displayed immediate chemistry with Evgeni Malkin after being traded to the Penguins in March. The plan is for Bunting to resume his duties on Malkin’s line when next season begins.

While Crosby was very effective late last season while playing on a line with Rust and Drew O’Connor, the Penguins would prefer an upgrade on the left side. They like O’Connor very much, and there’s no question he has earned a job as a top-nine forward with the Penguins moving forward.

However, sources in the Penguins organization have confirmed that Dubas, despite having precious little money to spend, is eager to find a left wing for Crosby. The sources were granted anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Penguins have around $7 million of cap space this summer after signing goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year deal and trading for forward Kevin Hayes.

Dubas said on Friday at Sphere in Las Vegas that he isn’t going to give away any long-term contracts when free agency begins. By all accounts, he is going to hold firm on that philosophy, believing that the last thing the Penguins need is yet another long-term deal on their already crowded books.

Instead, the plan simply is this:

• Identify a left wing who could thrive with Crosby

• Sign this player to a “prove it” short-term deal

• Be patient on July 1 and wait out the right player for a handful of days if necessary

One other factor has emerged that could theoretically free cap space for Dubas.

Penguins sources said some interest in left wing Reilly Smith has emerged and that a trade this summer is possible. Smith, who has one year remaining on his contract and a $5 million cap hit, didn’t fit with the Penguins last season. Dubas is fine with bringing Smith back next season, but he is the most likely player to be moved in a deal that would potentially open cap space and give the Penguins a future asset, which is what they’re currently craving.

It’s believed that Dubas would be directing the Penguins into full rebuild mode starting this summer, but because of Crosby’s presence, the Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager believes it’s important that the organization fields a competitive team. Making this all the more interesting is that Crosby has only one year remaining on his contract.

The Penguins front office isn’t concerned about completing a deal with Crosby. Crosby has no intention of skating a minute for another NHL team. Still, the front office doesn’t want Crosby to be surrounded by a terrible team in his final seasons.

While it’s expected that Crosby will sign a new deal with the Penguins, Dubas still wants to do right by his captain and give the Penguins a competitive team that spends to the cap, even if securing prospects and draft picks is a priority at this point. It’s a tricky situation for Dubas, to say the least. Many in the organization believe he would blow up this Penguins roster if not for his respect for Crosby.

The decision to trade Jake Guentzel in March didn’t go over well with Crosby, who has enjoyed some of his greatest success while playing with Guentzel. While it’s wildly unlikely the Penguins will find anyone on the free-agent market who could perform to Guentzel’s level, Dubas is eager to find a legitimate bottom-six answer, even though headliners like Jake DeBrusk aren’t particularly in play because of the money and term they will command.

Although the focus is largely on finding a left wing for Crosby when the free agency period begins, the Penguins also have an issue on their blue line.

P.O Joseph, who finished last season on the Penguins’ top-four playing alongside Kris Letang, surprisingly did not receive a qualifying offer from the Penguins. This doesn’t necessarily mean Joseph won’t return next season, as the Penguins are willing to discuss a new deal with him.

However, a team source said Dubas spent much of Sunday considering replacements for Joseph. So, it’s hardly a given that he will bring him back.

(Photo of Kyle Dubas and Jason Spezza: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)