Insider reveals why Kyle Dubas named himself the new full-time GM in Pittsburgh
Shortly after the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Florida Panthers, Kyle Dubas stated that he may not return as GM of the Leafs for the upcoming season because of the toll that the season took on him and his family. He also said that it would be Toronto or nowhere. A few days later, after reportedly exchanging a last minute counter-offer to the Leafs' offer, Brendan Shanahan announced that Dubas would not be returning with the Leafs and that he had been relieved of his duties effective immediately.
It caught the hockey world by surprise and many had wondered what Dubas would do after stating that it was Toronto or nowhere. As it turns out, he did pretty well for himself, becoming the President of Hockey Operations in Pittsburgh and prior to the draft, assumed the interim GM duties. Yesterday, it was announced that he would assume the GM position along with continuing to act as the President of Hockey Ops for the Pens.
Elliotte Friedman was on NHL Network yesterday to discuss Dubas' new role and the handful of other changes he made to his staff in Pittsburgh and revealed that the Leafs played a role in Dubas taking over the GM duties full-time.
"It means that Kyle Dubas is very much in charge. I don't think this is a huge surprise to a lot of people that he officially dropped the interim title and kept the job... I don't think the fact that Dubas is the GM surprises anyone. I think he wanted to see if Brandon Pridham, who worked with him in Toronto, was interested. I think that Pridham decided to stay in Toronto earlier this summer and I think once that kind of moved, was known that Priham was likely to stay, I think this was the course of action many people expected."
Many believed that once Dubas joined the Penguins, that cap wizard Brandon Pridham, who worked next to Dubas in Toronto was the obvious choice and a shoo-in for the Pens' GM position if he wanted it. However, as Friedman stated, Pridham reportedly decided he wanted to stay in Toronto and I'm sure the Leafs and their deep pockets had something to do with that as it wouldn't be the first time they gave someone in management a hefty raise to stay in the organization. Now that Dubas has "found" his GM and has total autonomy of hockey decisions in Pittsburgh, which is what he wanted in Toronto, it will be interesting to see if he carries the same philosophies he had in Toronto over to Pittsburgh.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 4 | 107 ANSWERS Insider reveals why Kyle Dubas named himself the new full-time GM in Pittsburgh Will Kyle Dubas continue to act as President and GM in Pittsburgh beyond this season? | ||
| Yes, he wants full control | 78 | 72.9 % |
| No, it will be too much work for one man | 29 | 27.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
