Penguins Prospect Lucius Declines Contract, Will Become UFA

21-year-old forward Cruz Lucius opts out of signing with Pittsburgh, will test free agency in August.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:56pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey player in motion, their form broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, gray, and red, conveying the conceptual idea of a player's career path diverging from a team's plans.A young hockey prospect's decision to bypass a team's development system and test free agency highlights the complex dynamics of talent retention in the modern NHL.Lawrence Today

Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Cruz Lucius will not be signing with the club and will instead become an unrestricted free agent on August 15. Lucius, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes whose rights were traded to the Penguins in 2024, is coming off a standout season with the Arizona State Sun Devils in the NCAA.

Why it matters

Lucius was considered a top-10 prospect in the Penguins' system, and his decision to decline signing with the team and instead test free agency is a significant loss for the organization. The Penguins were hoping to develop Lucius in their AHL affiliate, but now must either trade his rights or watch him sign elsewhere.

The details

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Lucius and his agent informed the team that he would not be signing in Pittsburgh 'for a few reasons that's up to him to share.' Dubas acknowledged the team felt they had a great opportunity for Lucius to develop, but said 'players are entitled to make their decision.' If Lucius had signed, his entry-level contract could have begun for the 2026-27 season, and he could have played on a tryout with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the rest of this year.

  • Lucius was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
  • His rights were transferred to Pittsburgh as part of a trade that sent Jake Guentzel to Raleigh in March 2024.
  • Lucius just finished a standout 2025-26 season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, recording 15 goals and 46 points in 36 games.
  • Lucius will become an unrestricted free agent on August 15, 2026.

The players

Cruz Lucius

A 21-year-old forward who was a top-10 prospect in the Pittsburgh Penguins' farm system, but has decided not to sign with the team and will instead become an unrestricted free agent.

Kyle Dubas

The general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who announced that Lucius and his agent informed the team he would not be signing in Pittsburgh.

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What they’re saying

“(Lucius and his agent) informed us that that he was not going to be signing in Pittsburgh for a few reasons that's up to him to share.”

— Kyle Dubas, General Manager, Pittsburgh Penguins

“I think passing up a chance to get into the American League and developing here, it would have been a month already now, but obviously next few months, especially when your (college) team doesn't qualify for anything, it's a big miss.”

— Kyle Dubas, General Manager, Pittsburgh Penguins

What’s next

The Penguins could still attempt to trade Lucius's rights before he becomes a free agent in mid-August.

The takeaway

Lucius's decision to decline signing with the Penguins and instead test free agency is a significant loss for the organization, as he was considered one of their top prospects. This highlights the challenges NHL teams face in retaining and developing young talent, especially when players choose to exercise their right to become UFAs.