Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Pittsburgh Penguins Name Kyle Dubas President Of Hockey Operations

06/01/2023 at 11:02am EDT

via the Pittsburgh Penguins,

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that Kyle Dubas has been named President of Hockey Operations. Dubas becomes just the second person to hold this position in the history of the franchise.

Dubas, 37, will oversee all aspects of the Penguins hockey operations department including establishing the strategic vision and philosophy for the franchise. Fenway Sports Group Principal Owner, John Henry, and Chairman, Tom Werner, issued the following joint statement:

"We are thrilled to welcome Kyle to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Throughout his career, Kyle has proven himself as a forward-thinking hockey mind and embodies all of the qualities - integrity, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to building a winning culture - that we value in a leader at the Penguins and within Fenway Sports Group. We have done exhaustive work narrowing down candidates throughout this process, but it did not take long to be impressed by Kyle, the reputation he's cultivated for himself in and around the National Hockey League, and his vision for the organization on and off the ice. His passion for the sport and ability to foster collaborative relationships with his staff, coaches and players is the type of leadership style that will undoubtedly resonate with the front office and set us on a new path for success in the near-term with our current championship-caliber core and beyond with a commitment to sustainable, long-term success."

Dubas spent the previous nine seasons as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, including the last five as general manager. At the time of his hiring in 2018, Dubas became the second-youngest general manager in NHL history at age 32.

"On behalf of my family, we are thrilled to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and all of the incredible people across Fenway Sports Group," said Dubas. "I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity that lies ahead of me. The ownership group, FSG leadership and the Penguins staff on the ground in Pittsburgh have been absolutely outstanding. Everyone has demonstrated a clear commitment to building a best-in-class hockey operation."

During Dubas' five seasons as general manager of the Maple Leafs, the team compiled a regular-season record of 221-109-42 with a .651 points percentage, ranking fifth in the league in wins and points percentage. Three of the five best regular seasons in Maple Leafs history by wins and points percentage came under his tenure (2018-19, '21-22 and '22-23).

Dubas set the franchise record in Toronto for the fastest general manager to earn 100 and 200 regular-season wins, needing only 176 and 376 regular season games, respectively, to reach the historic milestones. The organization qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year during his tenure, and in 2022-23, Dubas guided the Maple Leafs to their first playoff series victory since the 2003-04 campaign.

"The rich history of winning and the competitiveness of the coaching staff and players were evident in each conversation I had about this position," Dubas added. "The opportunity to work with such passionate and committed people, as well as the established character and leadership of the long-standing core group of talented players, gives me great enthusiasm for the challenge at hand. Our family has been made to feel extremely comfortable throughout this process and we are excited to now call Pittsburgh our home."

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native originally joined the Maple Leafs organization as an assistant general manager in 2014, working under Dave Nonis (2014-15) and Lou Lamoriello (2015-18). In that role, his responsibilities included player personnel, managing the club's player development department and farm system, managing the organization's research and development department, as well as overseeing the organization's top prospects as general manager of the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

During Dubas' four seasons as the general manager of the Marlies, the team went 190-90-20-4 while winning the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL's regular-season champion in 2015-16 and '17-18. He led the Marlies to their first Calder Cup championship in 2017-18.

Prior to joining Toronto, Dubas served as general manager of his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons from 2011-14. The team went 109-76-7-12 during his time at the helm, taking the Greyhounds from outside of the playoff picture in his first season to two postseason berths, as well as a West Division title in 2013-14. During his tenure as general manager, 14 different Greyhounds were drafted into the NHL, which marked the second most among all OHL teams over that span. At the time of his hiring, Dubas was the second-youngest general manager in OHL history at 25. He also served as a scout for the Greyhounds from 2002-06 while attending school.

Dubas and his wife, Shannon, have two children, Leo and Lennon.

rwbill

I do not study in depth the rosters and contracts vs salary cap and such like, and no doubt have a limited perspective with which to evaluate any GM. 


Looking at the talented roster he was able to put together in Toronto I wonder to what extent the GM should be held accountable for perceived playoff failures vs the coach and the players on the ice.  Youre not going to win them all as the other team is trying too.  Certainly theres something to the notion of building a playoff roster, or used to be, but how about the players manning up or the coach making in-game adjustments.  And do you blow up your organization because you ran into a hot goalie?

I understand, somebody had to take the blame in Toronto, and its easier to get rid of one in management vs gutting the roster of players.

They should put up 110 points next year and who knows, maybe theyll run into a goalie who cant stop a beach ball and get to the SCF and the new administration will be labeled genius.

dcarwbill

Dubas deserves blame for betting the salary cap would always rise with the RFA contracts and by doubling down and therefore tying up $40.5M for 4 forwards with the Tavares contract. He wrongly figured the latter years (when he was on the decline) would not be the constraint it was (due to the COVID escrow flat cap).


That said it was an extraordinary event and Dubas did everything he could with the draft capital he had to make lemonade out of lemons. But the championship window is fast closing on Toronto's core (due to salary cap/UFA coming with superstars). Dubas does deserve blame for the team's construction of always trying to outscore opponents (a regular season strategy that usually falls flat in the postseason).


In Pittsburgh though, they have an aging team that has very little time left OR a team with older assets to flip and stock up on a rebuild. The time on that decision is the draft as they have the 14th pick. Will they flip that pick for a contributor who can help win now or take the mid-round prospect? The Pens prospect pool is very thin from years of dealing away prospects for instant help.


Pittsburgh's core failed to make the playoffs this year after last year dominated puck control but failing to score in the playoffs. Their core is aging with 3 of them 35+ with contracts till at least summer of '25. However, betting against Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, and Letang having one final shot at a postseason run might be just as foolish.


They have only Jack Johnson's 916k as dead cap space so if they can't trade a Mikael Granlund, a Jan Rutta or a Jeff Petry there is the buyout route.


They have 20M in cap space but have to make decisions on Tristian Jarry and Jason Zucker which could potentially eat most of that space.


It's not the ideal spot that some think it is for Dubas. It's only missing the new arena where fans are out exploring the concourse (the reason for the empty seats) and it could be exactly where the Wings were in 2012ish. If only we got a real GM then.

TreKronor

I'm just shocked that they ran out immediately to grab him.  What do they see in him?  I don't get it.  

Paul

from Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

Kyle Dubas said he wasnt going anywhere.

As recently as May 15, Dubas pledged as much.

During a season-ending media availability session in his former capacity as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dubas indicated the toll that highly scrutinized job took on his family would preclude him from immediately taking a job with another franchise.

It was a very hard year on them, Dubas said. What I would say is that I definitely dont have it in me to go anywhere else. It will either be here (Toronto) or it will be taking time to recalibrate, reflect on the seasons (with Toronto).

But you wont see me next week pop up elsewhere.

Dubas was right in one sense. It took him all of two and a half weeks 17 days to pop up in his new role as president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

continued

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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