Kyle Dubas’ biggest opponent in building the 2022-23 Penguins isn’t other NHL teams. It’s Ron Hextall.
Will Dubas’ experience in Toronto, where he moved 39-year-old Patrick Marleau’s $6.25 cap hit without retaining salary in 2019, help him guide Pittsburgh out of some of Hextall’s worst contracts?
After making a slew of free agency acquisitions ranging from big defenseman Ryan Graves to veteran third-line center in Lars Eller, Dubas and his team are still left facing a $14 million block comprised of Jeff Petry ($6.25 million), Mikael Granlund ($5 million) and Jeff Carter ($3.125 million.) Together, they make up almost 16% of the 2023-24 salary cap.