Pierre LeBrun reveals the GM the Penguins nearly hired instead of Kyle Dubas

The Los Angeles Kings have officially lost Marc Bergevin to the Sabres, and the initial assumption is that his departure was tied directly to former general manager Rob Blake, who originally brought him to Los Angeles as a senior adviser.

While that connection mattered, it does not tell the full story of why Bergevin's exit still carries weight for the franchise. Since Ken Holland took over as the Kings' general manager last offseason, Bergevin has become a trusted voice in hockey operations.

The two share a long-standing professional relationship, and Holland valued having a former NHL general manager like Bergevin available for daily discussions, evaluations, and planning for the future.

Bergevin's presence was not just symbolic, and his influence extended well beyond his title. Bergevin did leave over the weekend to join the Buffalo Sabres, where he will now be working alongside new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Holland was clearly not eager to lose him, but he was also unwilling to block an opportunity that offered Bergevin a larger role and a clear path back toward a general manager position in the NHL one day.

His name has remained active around the league, as Bergevin finished as the runner-up to Mathieu Darche for the New York Islanders job last May and interviewed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2023, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.

Based on these remarks by LeBrun, it clearly shows that Pittsburgh came close to hiring Bergevin before ultimately going in a different direction and choosing Kyle Dubas instead.

For now, Holland does not plan to replace Bergevin, as it will be Tyler Wright, who was hired last summer as director of player personnel, who will take over in an expanded role within the Kings' front office structure.