Kyle Dubas Reveals the Truth About Sidney Crosby's Future in Pittsburgh
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Penguins GM Kyle Dubas finally broke his silence and revealed the true details about Sidney Crosby's future in Pittsburgh, and he will not deviate from his plan.
Kyle Dubas has never been busier. Still a few weeks shy of his 40th birthday, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native is pulling double duty, helping to build Team Canada's Olympic roster while guiding one of the most surprising teams in the NHL as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dubas spoke to 'The Athletic' recently about Sidney Crosby's future in Pittsburgh, one of the ongoing conversations surrounding the team.
Kyle Dubas likes keeping Sidney Crosby and his agent in the loop on his future plans every step of the way
This is an organization looking to balance its long-term game planning with a competitive present, and part of that is keeping Crosby and his agent, Pat Brisson, in the loop on what's happening.
Dubas stressed how he and Crosby both want one thing: to keep the Penguins in a position to win each day.
"Our goal is not so different," Dubas said of the 38-year-old Crosby. "Every day, we're trying to get better. We're trying to put ourselves in a position to win every single day. And I think that's been what we really set out to do from the spring to the summer through the fall. I understand that it doesn't appear on the outside at times that it's glaringly obvious, but internally, we have very different viewpoints on it, and the results of the team will dictate who's right and who's wrong.
"I communicate that with Sid and with Pat, and I just don't think we can veer from it if we're going to deliver for him a team that can contend while he's still at this level, while he's still playing. We're very fortunate to have a person of that character, capability, of that winning pedigree, all in one. That in itself is probably the most important part of bringing the team back to that point (contention), is that you have that example.
"And the one thing I would say from being there is that it's not just Sid having that burning desire and that history. You've got Geno Malkin and Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust has been part of winning twice here; we have others like Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, they're trying to win for the first time."
"I communicate that with Sid and with Pat, and I just don't think we can veer from it if we're going to deliver for him a team that can contend while he's still at this level, while he's still playing. We're very fortunate to have a person of that character, capability, of that winning pedigree, all in one. That in itself is probably the most important part of bringing the team back to that point (contention), is that you have that example.
"And the one thing I would say from being there is that it's not just Sid having that burning desire and that history. You've got Geno Malkin and Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust has been part of winning twice here; we have others like Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, they're trying to win for the first time."
From the offseason into the early months of the year, the approach hasn't changed from the organization, and the proof will be in the results on the ice.
He gave credit to the leadership core: Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, among others like Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, for driving that pursuit and setting a tone in the locker room.
As for Crosby's future, that ultimately falls on the captain himself. With two years remaining on his deal, Dubas made it clear his focus is on building a team capable of contending during the remainder of Crosby's prime, but also not giving away the future.
"No, I would never," Dubas said. "He's got two years, this year and next year, on his contract. And I just think that if we continue to take the right steps and we continue to win, that's the great solution to everything in sports. Just have to win."
Ultimately, Dubas figures the answer to everything is sustained success on the ice, and the best way to secure not only Crosby's legacy but the path forward for the Penguins is to keep on winning.
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