It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to shake things up. After a disappointing start to the season (6-8-2), General Manager Kyle Dubas may be looking to hit the reset button and retool the team. A key part of that retool could involve bringing back a familiar face: prospect Brayden Yager.
Yager, who was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in the offseason for Rutger McGroarty, has been tearing it up in the WHL. McGroarty, meanwhile, has struggled to find his footing in Pittsburgh and has publicly expressed his frustration with his limited ice time.
Rumors suggest that the Penguins are eager to bring Yager back into the fold and are willing to part with some significant assets to make it happen.
The Proposed Trade Brayden Yager trade
The rumored trade involves the Penguins sending:
- Marcus Pettersson (50% salary retained): Pettersson provides the Jets with a solid, experienced defenseman who can contribute immediately. Retaining 50% of his salary makes him a more affordable acquisition for Winnipeg.
- 2025 3rd-round draft pick: Adds draft capital for the Jets, allowing them to further bolster their prospect pool.
- 2026 2nd-round draft pick: A higher-value pick that gives the Jets even more flexibility in future drafts.
In return, the Penguins would receive:
- Brayden Yager: A highly skilled forward with the potential to be a game-changer. Yager would add much-needed offensive firepower to the Penguins’ prospect pipeline.
This trade makes sense for both sides. The Penguins get a dynamic young player who could be a cornerstone of their future. The Jets, who are currently leading the league with a 13-1-0 record, add depth to their roster and acquire valuable draft picks to help sustain their success.
My Take: This is a shrewd move by Dubas if he can pull it off. Yager has the potential to be a star, and the Penguins need to inject some excitement into their fanbase for the future. While losing Pettersson would hurt, the long-term gain of acquiring Yager could be well worth the sacrifice. It’s also a testament to Dubas’ ability to recognize and rectify a trade that, in hindsight, may not have been in the Penguins’ best interests.
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