Media and Fans in Pittsburgh Beginning to Turn on Ex-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas
Former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is struggling to adapt to his role with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his actions are beginning to annoy the fan base.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas is in his second season as President of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but his results have been mixed at best. The team is currently sitting outside of a playoff spot with a record of 18-19-8.
It's becoming increasingly clear that the Penguins lack depth and are suffering from subpar goaltending, as both Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic have posted matching .866 save percentages, with their goals against averages well over 3.00.
Penguins fans are already growing frustrated with Dubas, as many of the issues he faced with the Toronto Maple Leafs are reappearing in Pittsburgh. As Pens media member @AGretz pointed out on X:
And .... that same thing is happening here.
And this time he doesn't have a couple young stars already in place."
Dubas has been publicly making it known he wants to overhaul the roster in Pittsburgh, while refusing to move players he considers to be "his guys", which was a reoccurring issue he faced in Toronto.
Dubas has brought over many players and personnel from his time with Toronto, including Jason Spezza, who was also formerly a player under Dubas and now the Assistant GM in Pittsburgh.
Another approach that mirrors what he did with the Maple Leafs- is throwing darts at fringe NHL players in the hopes of finding hidden gems, a strategy that often led to failed experiments in Toronto, and now is failing in Pittsburgh.
One major difference between his two tenures, however, is that the stars on his Penguins roster are aging and nearing retirement. This poses a major challenge for the future, as the Penguins' window to contend is closing quickly.
Once the Sidney Crosby era ends, rebuilding could be difficult. Dubas has yet to focus on the team's long-term future, and with a below-average roster, it's looking increasingly likely that the Penguins will miss the playoffs again under his watch.
