Kyle Dubas can't help himself, signs another former Leaf
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.
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.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
POLL |
MAI 22 | 85 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas can't help himself, signs another former Leaf Will the Pittsburgh Penguins return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season? |
Yes | 25 | 29.4 % |
No | 60 | 70.6 % |
List of polls |
|
4 hours ago | By Tom Banks Multiple Teams Interested in Signing Penguins Veteran Forward, per Insider |
|
7 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Aaron Ekblad Releases Statement After 20-Game Suspension |
|
9 hours ago | By Tom Banks Pittsburgh Penguins Sign New Defenseman in Latest Move |
|
10 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Sidney Crosby Opens Up on Penguins Teammate Rickard Rakell Not Being Traded |
|
11 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Kyle Dubas' True Plans for Penguins Star Forward Finally Revealed |
|
13 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Former Pittsburgh Legend and TV Personality Tragically Passes Away |
|
15 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Sidney Crosby Weighs In on Ovechkin's Historic Goal-Scoring Chase |
|
16 hours ago | By Tom Banks Marc-Andre Fleury Jokingly Calls Out Former Teammates Crosby & Malkin in Penguins Reunion Banter |