After a poor start to the 2024/25 campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins are potentially looking for a rebuild, and while they aren't likely to strip it down to nothing, getting another top prospect would be a major win for General Manager Kyle Dubas.
The Penguins landed Rutger McGroarty in the off-season, and now they are now looking to add another top level prospects, but in a shocking turn of events, it appears as though the former Winnipeg Jet is available for trade.
According to Rob Rossi of The Athletic, Dubas is in love with the game of David Jiricek in Columbus, going so far as to state that any prospect in their organization is available in a potential trade with the Metropolitan Division rivals.
While some have quickly feared that this may mean the team no longer believe in McGroarty, that's not the case according to Rossi, but more so simply showing how much Dubas wants to land Jiricek.
At 6-foot-4, the former No. 6 overall pick has shown incredible flashes in his time with the Blue Jackets, and while he's yet to get consistent playing time at the NHL level, there are many around the league that believe in his talents.
With 19 points in 29 AHL games a year ago along with great defensive instincts, if the Penguins could land Jiricek, it would completely transform their future, giving them a blue liner that can lead the way for years to come.
Unfortunately for Dubas however, there will be plenty of competition around the league to land Jiricek, with some potentially offering better prospects than McGroarty, so now we will sit back and wait for an intriguing bidding war to unfold.
POLL | ||
Is acquiring David Jiricek worth moving Rutger McGroarty for the Penguins? | ||
Yes | 72 | 56.3 % |
No | 56 | 43.8 % |
List of polls |