Kyle Dubas offers comments after poaching Wes Clark from the Maple Leafs
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Former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has offered some comments following his hire of Wes Clark out of Toronto.
In a move absolutely nobody expected to occur this summer shortly after the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas swooped in and nabbed former Leafs head of scouting Wes Clark, appointing him as Vice President of Player Personnel in Pittsburgh.
The move was even more puzzling and unexpected, given Clark's presence at Maple Leafs Development Camp last week. Clark had been in attendance all throughout camp, leading all the way up to Sunday's Blue vs White scrimmage.
A deal must have come together rather quickly, but with everything now finalized, Dubas offered some thoughts in his official press release regarding the Clark hire on Tuesday.
"Starting last fall with the addition of Trent Mann as a player development and scouting advisor and the elevation of Andy Saucier to lead our pro scouting department, we have sought to really bolster our player personnel system. Our personnel decisions in this short term will be critical as we seek to add the draft picks, prospects and young players that will serve to add an infusion of young, hungry players to our core.
By adding Wes to lead the departments directed by Nick Pryor and Andy, along with the valuable experience and wisdom that Trent provides, we have tried to put the Penguins in a strong position to go out and execute on our personnel strategy in the short and long run. Having worked with Wes for many years, I have a deep trust in his ability to identify talent, lead staffs, advance our scouting process and methods, learn from mistakes to improve processes and to challenge my own thinking and planning on a near daily basis."
By adding Wes to lead the departments directed by Nick Pryor and Andy, along with the valuable experience and wisdom that Trent provides, we have tried to put the Penguins in a strong position to go out and execute on our personnel strategy in the short and long run. Having worked with Wes for many years, I have a deep trust in his ability to identify talent, lead staffs, advance our scouting process and methods, learn from mistakes to improve processes and to challenge my own thinking and planning on a near daily basis."
With Dubas now having brought Jason Spezza and Wes Clark on board, everyone continues to wonder whether Brandon Pridham will be his next target. Pridham, the salary cap guru, is a current Assistant GM under Brad Treliving in Toronto. Dubas has often spoke very highly of the executive, so it would make sense for him to have continued interest.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 9 | 537 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas offers comments after poaching Wes Clark from the Maple Leafs Will Brandon Pridham be the next executive to leave Toronto and follow Kyle Dubas to Pittsburgh? | ||
| Yes | 299 | 55.7 % |
| No | 238 | 44.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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