Kyle Dubas was dealing yesterday, as the Penguins President of Hockey Operations swung a deal to acquire Vegas forward Reilly Smith prior to making his first-ever draft choice for the Pens, 18-year-old center Brayden Yager.
Smith was acquired for a 2024 third round draft pick and was one of the six remaining original Golden Knights remaining on the Stanley Cup champs’ roster. He scored 26 goals last season with 30 assists in 78 games. He added ten goals and four assists during the playoff run to the Cup. The 31-year-old former Dallas Stars third round pick has also played for the Bruins and Panthers. He’s signed for two more years at $5 million per season.
Yager is six feet tall and weighs 165 pounds. He’s an all-ice talent from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who scored 28 goals with 50 assists for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League last season.
Dubas says Yager played very well in a tough league last year.
Dubas loves the all-around game that Reilly Smith brings to the Penguins.
Dubas says the acquisition of Smith does not mean the Penguins have given up on re-signing Jason Zucker.
He says he is still having conversations with the agents for Zucker, Tristan Jarry, and Brian Dumoulin.
Brayden Yager is known for his speed and his outstanding wrist shot. He says, though, that he models his all-over-the-ice game after a guy he hopes to play with someday: Sidney Crosby.
Yager says he still has a lot of growing to do, both in his body and in his game.
Coach Mike Sullivan says he’s excited to have Reilly Smith on his roster, especially because of the way Smith plays.
Sullivan says he knows Kyle Dubas is still in talks with some of his free agents, particularly Zucker, Jarry, and Dumoulin, and he’d like to see those talks succeed.
Sullivan says this first month of working with Dubas has been enlightening. He says Dubas is always seeking input from his staff.
Rounds two through seven of the draft are today. The Penguins hold picks in the third, fifth, and sixth rounds, and two in the seventh.
Connor Bedard went to the Blackhawks with the top overall choice. Anaheim took Swedish forward Leo Carlsson at number two and Columbus snared Michigan center Adam Fantilli third.
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