Kyle Dubas can't help himself, signs another former Leaf

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Josh Tupper
May 22, 2024 (8:29)

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After assuming the position last summer, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is still leaving his mark on the team and hopes to lead the group to its first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance since 2022.

Even though Dubas left Toronto during the 2022�2023 season, in the more than 11 months since his hire, he has helped the Penguins acquire a few of former Maple Leafs. On the 1st of July, , he signed Noel Acciari to a three-year deal, and then brought in Michael Bunting via a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

For the 2023�24 campaign, Dubas has chosen to add yet another former Toronto Maple Leaf to the Pittsburgh Penguins roster.

The Penguins revealed on social media on Tuesday that they and unrestricted free agent defenseman Filip Kral have reached an agreement on a $775,000, one-year contract.

"The Penguins have signed defenseman Filip Kral to a one-year contract.

The contract runs through the 2024.25 season and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level."

Just one month after taking over for Lou Lamoriello as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kyle Dubas selected Kral, 24, 149th overall, in his first draft selection as general manager. Before traveling to Finland for the 2022�2023 season, Kral made two appearances for the Maple Leafs.

Kral scored 37 points (five goals, 32 assists) and accumulated 10 penalty minutes in 46 games for the Lahti Pelicans in Finland's premier level, Liiga. He also finished plus-28. He continued to contribute eight points in 17 postseason games, helping the Lahti Pelicans win the second consecutive championship as runners-up.

How Filip Kral is used in training camp and whether or not he makes the Penguins opening night roster will be interesting to watch. He might have a solid chance of landing a spot on the third pairing given his successful 2023�24 season, but it's still too early to tell. But Kral will play hockey with the Penguins at some point in the 2024�25 season.