Kyle Dubas left the Toronto Maple Leafs and took on a complex challenge with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the past three years, he’s restocked the prospect pool and succeeded with reclamation projects. Check out this deep dive for more.
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Video Transcript
When Kyle Dubas took the job in Pittsburgh to be the president of hockey operations, many people around hockey deemed it the hardest job in the sport.
When Kyle Dubas took the job in Pittsburgh to be the president of hockey operations, many people around hockey deemed it the hardest job in the sport.
With Hall of Famers and legends of the game like Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin and Kris Letang, you wanted to win with those players still.
With Hall of Famers and legends of the game like Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin and Kris Letang, you wanted to win with those players still.
But the team around them had been decimated by trading away draft picks, a lack of prospects, and overall just underwhelming results.
But the team around them had been decimated by trading away draft picks, a lack of prospects, and overall just underwhelming results.
This team had no players coming in the pipeline, and realistically, they were kind of in a mess.
This team had no players coming in the pipeline, and realistically, they were kind of in a mess.
Dubas’ job was very clear.
Dubas’ job was very clear.
The team that hired him wanted him to win with this core still.
The team that hired him wanted him to win with this core still.
He also had his mind on the future, though.
He also had his mind on the future, though.
He did a good job of balancing building up that prospect pool with committing to the core that was there.
He did a good job of balancing building up that prospect pool with committing to the core that was there.
He traded for Eric Carlson.
He traded for Eric Carlson.
He made other moves throughout his first couple of summers.
He made other moves throughout his first couple of summers.
And then it was this past summer, after two more years of not competing for the playoffs and getting in, where he decided we need to truly look towards the future.
And then it was this past summer, after two more years of not competing for the playoffs and getting in, where he decided we need to truly look towards the future.
After trading players like Jake Guentzel and Michael Bunting and many others over the last couple of years, this summer everyone deemed the Pittsburgh Penguins open for business.
After trading players like Jake Guentzel and Michael Bunting and many others over the last couple of years, this summer everyone deemed the Pittsburgh Penguins open for business.
They were the one team that everyone was looking at that said they were trying to lose to try to get to the top draft pick and really start this rebuild.
They were the one team that everyone was looking at that said they were trying to lose to try to get to the top draft pick and really start this rebuild.
But then something funny happened.
But then something funny happened.
The season started and they started winning.
The season started and they started winning.
And after some smoke and mirrors talk by the media, they continued winning.
And after some smoke and mirrors talk by the media, they continued winning.
And Evgeny Malkin had a bounce back season.
And Evgeny Malkin had a bounce back season.
Eric Carlson was playing well.
Eric Carlson was playing well.
And Sidney Crosby continued to be the legend of the game that he is, putting up monster numbers for a player his age.
And Sidney Crosby continued to be the legend of the game that he is, putting up monster numbers for a player his age.
And they’ve gotten some really nice pieces around them.
And they’ve gotten some really nice pieces around them.
Anthony Manthus had a great year.
Anthony Manthus had a great year.
Ricard Raquel’s been pretty good.
Ricard Raquel’s been pretty good.
And they could have traded him this summer.
And they could have traded him this summer.
They’ve had added other bit pieces that have been really solid.
They’ve had added other bit pieces that have been really solid.
A midseason trade for Igor Chernikov has turned out pretty good.
A midseason trade for Igor Chernikov has turned out pretty good.
They swapped goalies with Edmonton and took advantage by adding Brett Kulak and a draft pick and then flipping Brett Kulak for Sam Girard and another draft pick.
They swapped goalies with Edmonton and took advantage by adding Brett Kulak and a draft pick and then flipping Brett Kulak for Sam Girard and another draft pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have operated at a really high level this season, both in the front office and on the ice.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have operated at a really high level this season, both in the front office and on the ice.
This is a team that could get Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin back into the playoffs while also rebuilding a prospect pipeline that was absolutely decimated and arguably the worst in the NHL less than three years ago.
This is a team that could get Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin back into the playoffs while also rebuilding a prospect pipeline that was absolutely decimated and arguably the worst in the NHL less than three years ago.
So walk with me as I bring you through the story of Kyle Dubas’ hiring, how he’s gotten to this point, and every little thing that has helped build this team back up from a team that seemed to have no direction to a team with a very positive future and a pretty solid present as well.
So walk with me as I bring you through the story of Kyle Dubas’ hiring, how he’s gotten to this point, and every little thing that has helped build this team back up from a team that seemed to have no direction to a team with a very positive future and a pretty solid present as well.