It might be a tough pill to swallow for many, but it might be the right time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to tear things down as look to the future. The Penguins are 6-9-3 with no real signs of improving and have a number of key faces that could fetch large returns on the trade market.
The Penguins already opened the floodgate of trades by sending Lars Eller back to the Washington Capitals for a couple of draft picks. If more trades are on the horizon, what kind of solutions are president and general manager Kyle Dubas looking for?
When Dubas arrived in Pittsburgh, his focus was to find success right away in the final years of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin while restocking the shelves for the future. According to Daren Dregger on TSN’s Insider Trading, the focus may have completely turned to looking ahead.
“He knows what he’s dealing with,” Dreger said. “He’s got the Hall of Famers there. But he also recognizes that given his contract status, the length of his contract, this is going to be a complex project of work. He wants young NHL players are draft picks to build for a better future.”
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The first sign of Dubas turning to the future was put on display when he didn’t get another player in return for Eller. Rather he scooped a couple of draft picks for 2025 and 2027 while promoting a young forward to fill the roster space.
Sam Poulin was that young player, who is arguably on his last chance with the Penguins. Poulin is 23 years old with just seven games of NHL experience under his belt over the last three seasons.
Behind Poulin is a slew of youngsters that have budding NHL talent or are among the organization’s top prospects. The Penguins aren’t completely throwing in the towel on the season, but they’re going to give their youth a chance.
If they help out and the Penguins turn things around, that’s great. If things keep going south, there won’t be too many disappointed by the results. Dubas and the Penguins are looking to the future, and they’ll likely be a team to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
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You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and QB Russell Wilson didn’t miss his chance to join the Pittsburgh Steelers after his exit from Denver, ultimately driven by a shared vision with Pittsburgh. Wilson sat down with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and discussed his decision-making process in choosing to come to the Steel City.
Wilson described several prominent Steelers players who made sales pitches during the 2024 offseason, including fellow Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Cam Heyward, fellow Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt, and former All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick.
While playing with such elite talent seems like an offer too good to pass up, Wilson stated that his decision to sign with Pittsburgh stemmed from a shared vision with the team’s philosophy, including a similar football belief system: “I think Coach Tomlin and I share the same vision, love for the game, passion behind it, and obsession with it.”
While the success in the early chapters of the 2024 season can be credited to QB Justin Fields, no one can deny that Wilson helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers potential Super Bowl contenders.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers got plenty of good injury news on Thursday as multiple players returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s session.
Running back Najee Harris, who missed Wednesday with an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice on Thursday. Cornerback Cory Trice was a full participant in his first practice back from injury.
Meanwhile, running back Jaylen Warren (back) and cornerback C.J. Henderson (neck) were the two players who did not practice on Thursday that fully practiced on Wednesday. Tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee / rest) did not practice for the second straight day, but the veteran needs less practice time than others due to his veteran status.
Wide receiver Van Jefferson (quad) and cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) were limited after missing practice on Wednesday. Both players seem likely to play this Sunday but are being limited.
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Meanwhile, outside linebacker Nick Herbig feels like a full-go after practicing fully for the second straight day. He and Preston Smith will make up the edge rusher rotation as Alex Highsmith (ankle) has already been ruled out.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t holding any grudges as he and his new team, the Baltimore Ravens, descend upon Acrisure Stadium for an AFC North showdown in Week 11.
Johnson struck a reminiscent and reflective tone when speaking to reporters about his return to Pittsburgh, stating that stepping onto the field and into the visitor’s locker room with a different uniform on will provide a foreign feeling.
“Just being back in that stadium, where it all started, it’s going to be different,” Johnson said. “I actually have never been in the away locker room [in Pittsburgh], so that’s going to be different for me, but I’m ready to get back there, just to see the good people that I made relationships with, but other than that, it’s a big moment for me.”
Johnson’s NFL career began in 2019, when he was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft out of Toledo. He’d call the Steel City home for five seasons through the end of the 2023 campaign, recording 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns across 77 games (67 starts).
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With one year remaining on his deal, Pittsburgh dealt the 2021 Pro Bowler to the Carolina Panthers back in March for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round pick, which was used to take Iowa defensive tackle Logan Lee.
Johnson was Carolina’s most productive receiver throughout his seven contests there this season, posting 30 catches for 357 yards and three scores.
With the Panthers far removed from the playoff race, he was traded to the Ravens along with a 2025 sixth-round selection on Oct. 29 in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder.
The 28-year-old hasn’t unearthed much of a role since arriving in Baltimore, however, as he’s only taken 23 snaps in his two contests with the team thus far.
Johnson isn’t stressing about his lack of involvement though, stating that he has to remain prepared and can’t worry about how the game plays out given that it’s largely out of his control.
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“They’re working me in there slowly, but, you know, I just go out there, whenever they call my number, going to do my thing,” Johnson said. “So I can’t go in there just expecting a lot. I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself. However the game goes, I’m all for it.”
While he would love to show the Steelers what they’re missing, especially after Mike Tomlin’s recent comments downplaying his potential impact on Sunday’s matchup, there’s no guarantee Johnson will have a true opportunity to do so.
Regardless, it appears he’s relishing the chance to come back to Pittsburgh and catch up with some old friends.
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