Dubas: Cruz Lucius won’t be signing with Penguins
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 15: Cruz Lucius #51 of Arizona State University Sun Devils skates on the ice during a stoppage of play against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at Mullett Arena on March 15, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Getty Images) | Getty Images 21-year old forward Cruz Lucius, whose rights were acquired by the Penguins as part of the Jake Guentzel trade, won’t be signing with Pittsburgh according to general manager Kyle Dubas on his GM Show podcast (Apple link, apologies for nothing much broad). Lucius had a star season for Arizona State this year, scoring 46 points (15 goals and 31 assists) in 36 games.
He qualifies to become a free agent on August 15th. Here’s what Dubas had to say: “We’ve met with Cruz and his representatives from Newport Sports a number of times. And I think just right after the trade deadline, they informed us that he was not going to be signing in Pittsburgh for a few reasons.
That it’s up to him to share. It’s a personal thing for him. But obviously, we felt we had a great opportunity for him.
And obviously, the proof is in the pudding on the development side. ” “But players are entitled to make their decision. And I don’t think we’re at the position here anymore where we have to beg people to come.
So when it comes to his decision making on it, then I think passing up a chance to get into the American League and developing here over.. (he) would have been a month already now. But obviously, the next few months and it’s, especially when your (college) team doesn’t qualify for anything, it’s a big miss.