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Kyle Dubas Declares Open Competition for Key Roster Spot in Penguins Camp
Photo credit: Edit from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Kyle Dubas is ready to bring the Penguins back to the playoffs as early as next season, and he will open up the roster to any player ready to prove themselves.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have accepted the fact that they won't be in the playoffs this year.
That part aside, GM Kyle Dubas is already focusing on the offseason and training camp, where he's anticipating an acrimonious fight for the goaltending positions.
On the '100% Hockey' podcast, Dubas said to John Shannon and Darren Millard that the fight for the crease will be intense.
"My view of it is that the five guys right now-with their play or with their history or with their pedigree-have earned the right to come into camp for an all-out battle for the position. Collectively, we need that position to continue to improve for us."
- Kyle Dubas
- Kyle Dubas
The Penguins will have five goalies battling it out for the top spot next season
The candidates are Alex Nedeljkovic, Joel Blomqvist, Filip Larsson, prized prospect Sergei Murashov, and veteran Tristan Jarry, who, despite speculation, isn't being bought out, at least yet.
Jarry has three years remaining on his $5.375 million cap-hit contract. He spent parts of the season in the AHL but is now back in Pittsburgh and has performed better, although he was pulled in two recent games.
In March, he posted a .907 save percentage in nine appearances. On the season, Jarry boasts an .891 save percentage and 3.21 GAA, and Nedeljkovic has posted an .892 save percentage and a 3.19 GAA.
Murashov, 21, has been the most impressive, recording an 11-1-0 record and .916 save percentage for Wilkes-Barre, having won his first 11 games in a row in his AHL career.
Now that the season is virtually over for the Penguins and their fans, they can take comfort in knowing that the team is being steered in the right direction for years to come.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3 | 164 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas Declares Open Competition for Key Roster Spot in Penguins Camp Will the Penguins finish next season with more points than this year? | ||
| Yes | 148 | 90.2 % |
| No | 16 | 9.8 % |
| List of polls | ||