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Kyle Dubas' True Intentions for Penguins Rebuild Plan Emerges
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is up against it with several difficult decisions to be made in the coming months and years.
It's going to be a difficult next several months and potentially years for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who appear to be on the verge of a difficult rebuilding process.
Franchise mainstays Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang aren't getting any younger, while there remain several unknowns in terms of prospects waiting in the wings.
But per Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has an idea of how to go about things and doesn't plan on falling into the bottom of the NHL like the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.
Dubas doesn't want to strip the Penguins to the studs because he's seen what has happened in places like Chicago and San Jose and isn't interested in plummeting to those depths. Sure, he'd like to get the No. 1 pick in June's draft, and he'd really like it next year, when generational prospect Gavin McKenna almost certainly will be the top pick.
But Dubas isn't going to tank. If the ping-pong balls bounce the right way, fantastic. He believes in rebuilding more along the lines of the Capitals, not the Blackhawks.
But Dubas isn't going to tank. If the ping-pong balls bounce the right way, fantastic. He believes in rebuilding more along the lines of the Capitals, not the Blackhawks.
The Penguins have 30 draft selections to make in the next 3 years, which include a handful of 1st rounders.
Meanwhile, Dubas is likely to sign short-term contracts while waiting for the team's prospects to develop.
Next season might be rough for the Penguins. They could take a similar path to the past 12 months. That would entail Pittsburgh signing free agents to one-year deals on July 1 and patiently waiting for its prospects to improve.
I see the franchise's direction and spending taking a much different path in the summer of 2026, at which time I'd expect some aggressive maneuvering.
I see the franchise's direction and spending taking a much different path in the summer of 2026, at which time I'd expect some aggressive maneuvering.
Dubas has faced criticism for how he's handled certain aspects of the organization, including trades and free-agent signings. Is he the right general manager to lead Pittsburgh's rebuilding process?
| POLL | ||
MARS 11 | 248 ANSWERS Kyle Dubas' True Intentions for Penguins Rebuild Plan Emerges Is Kyle Dubas the right general manager to lead the Penguins' rebuild? | ||
| Yes | 87 | 35.1 % |
| No | 161 | 64.9 % |
| List of polls | ||