Penguins’ Kyle Dubas Continues to Focus on the Future with Cody Glass Trade – The Hockey Writers –

For the first time in what feels like forever, it seems like the Pittsburgh Penguins may actually have a plan. Throughout the Jim Rutherford and Ron Hextall eras, it felt like the Penguins’ front office had just been throwing ideas at the wall hoping that they would stick. However, current general manager Kyle Dubas has been busy throughout the summer putting his plan for the team into motion. 

Dubas Is Making Moves 

When Dubas took the reins last summer, he made it clear that he had a vision for the Penguins. He wanted to make the team younger and start preparing for when the core retired. He has been in charge for a little over a year now and has been methodically carrying out this plan. On Aug. 13, Pittsburgh made a trade with the St. Louis Blues involving draft picks. St. Louis re-acquired their own 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Pittsburgh received a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. At first glance, this appeared to be a relatively small move, but it fell into place with the plan Dubas has had from the beginning. He is continuing to stockpile draft picks and prospects when he can in order to build for the future. 

The Penguins also made a trade with the Nashville Predators later on that same day. They traded forward Jordan Frasca in exchange for Cody Glass, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Glass has one year remaining on his current contract with a $2.5 million salary cap hit. His best season came in 2022-23 with the Predators when he recorded 14 goals and 21 assists in 72 games. 

Last season Glass saw a decline in play, recording only six goals and seven assists in 41 games. He has struggled with injuries for the past few years and last season was more of the same as he dealt with a knee and shoulder injury. At 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, he definitely has the size Pittsburgh is looking for, but he is still struggling to meet his full potential. Right now, his biggest struggle seems to be his own lack of confidence and until he can conquer the mental aspect of the game, he will continue to be a mediocre player. 

Pittsburgh Is Planning For the Future

Acquiring Glass fits the mold of what Dubas has been doing in Pittsburgh. He has been orchestrating a rebuild on the fly, and this trade was another low-risk possibly high-reward move. He is going to continue loading up on draft picks whenever…