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Mounting Pressure on Kyle Dubas to Rebuild Penguins for Crosby's Final Cup Run
Photo credit: Edit from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The pressure is on for Penguins GM Kye Dubas to build a competitive team to give the aging Sidney Crosby one final shot at a Stanley Cup before he retires.
Kyle Dubas is officially on the clock. Sidney Crosby continues to play at an elite level, night after night, proving that he's still far from finished.
But he's not in the mood for a goodbye tour; rather, he wants another playoff push, another Stanley Cup bid. At least one more, as reported by Josh Yohe.
"As always, the spotlight thus starts to shine a little brighter on Kyle Dubas.
Crosby is still great. He's showing it every night. But he's not one for farewell tours. He wants one more taste of the playoffs, one more Stanley Cup run. At least one more."
- Josh Yohe
Crosby is still great. He's showing it every night. But he's not one for farewell tours. He wants one more taste of the playoffs, one more Stanley Cup run. At least one more."
- Josh Yohe
Kyle Dubas will need to get competitive as fast as possible for Crosby
The issue is whether Dubas can move fast enough to build around him. The Penguins cannot afford that luxury.
Crosby will be 37 in the summer, and it's not smart to count him out from performing at the highest level based on his age, but it's impossible to say how much longer his glory can last. The window remains open, but not for long.
"Can Dubas build a team quickly enough that can help Crosby get back to the top of the mountain? That's the real question here. Will Crosby still be great at 39 or 40? That's a question, too. But are you willing to bet against him? I am not."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
Dubas needs to make some bold decisions, giving the right choices to infuse enough talent into the team to make Pittsburgh a real playoff contender. Crosby has led teams before, but he cannot do it alone.
The responsibility now falls on management to do this right, and as quickly as possible. For those who think Crosby is playing great now, just wait until he gets another chance to play in the playoffs, and with the right type of players around him.
"If you think Crosby is great now, wait until next season, or the one after, if the Penguins get back into the playoffs. He's still got it. Get him some better teammates, and you might see something truly special."
- Josh Yohe
- Josh Yohe
He saves his best for the biggest games of his life. Give him a more skilled supporting cast, and you might see something truly remarkable.
At least, for the time being, just enjoy what he's doing. Players like this don't come along very often. And when he's gone, there won't be another one like him for a very long time, or ever for that matter.
| POLL | ||
MARS 25 | 156 ANSWERS Mounting Pressure on Kyle Dubas to Rebuild Penguins for Crosby's Final Cup Run Will Sidney Crosby get a competitive Penguins team again before he retires? | ||
| Yes | 83 | 53.2 % |
| No | 73 | 46.8 % |
| List of polls | ||