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Yesterday the Penguins announced a monumental hire that looks likely to shape the franchise through the Sidney Crosby days and beyond with the hiring of Kyle Dubas. Dubas, 37, is a mostly well-regarded hockey mind who helped build Toronto into one of the league’s top* teams. (*In the regular season, anyways).
Now he’s the top guy in Pittsburgh and will be looking to improve the team for the near future while also attempting to make the transition to the post-Crosby years as painless as possible.
It’s a new day in Pittsburgh, and we can consider this a baseline of where Dubas is starting as he starts his new journey as the Pens’ President of Hockey Operations. We’ll go through a myriad of questions about what you would most like to Dubas do, avoid and what impact you think as of today that he will have on next season and beyond.
Is it too early to have any idea of what is going to happen? Absolutely. But we’re not going for accuracy or expecting crystal ball level predictions so much as setting the initial expectations and outlook that we collectively have in this moment where everything is new and fresh for the incoming director.
Poll
How satisfied are you on a 1-10 scale about the hiring of Kyle Dubas by the Penguins?
This poll is closed
-
46%
10 - best option they could have had at this point
(536 votes) -
30%
9 - extremely pleased and excited
(355 votes) -
9%
8 - excited but not totally thrilled
(106 votes) -
6%
7 - happy enough about it
(80 votes) -
3%
6 - moderately happy but almost as many reservations
(36 votes) -
1%
5 - completely neutral instant reaction
(15 votes) -
1%
4 - could be good, but more skeptical than excited
(16 votes) -
0%
3 - suspect this was a bad move, actively against it
(8 votes) -
0%
2 - mad online about it, very bad decsion
(1 vote) -
0%
1 - worst move they could make, respondent is also probably a troll
(3 votes)
Poll
Compared to the last three years (2021-23), the next three years (2023-26) for the Penguins will be:
This poll is closed
-
70%
Improved due to better management by Dubas
(639 votes) -
26%
Probably about the same due to age of best players
(240 votes) -
3%
Even worse in the immediate future than it has been in the recent past
(30 votes)
Poll
What is most important item for Dubas to accomplish this summer:
This poll is closed
-
47%
Making the right call about the goaltending
(432 votes) -
21%
Making next year’s team younger
(194 votes) -
3%
Making next year’s team bigger/tougher
(32 votes) -
22%
Fixing the third line
(200 votes) -
4%
Improving the blueline
(39 votes) -
1%
Making changes to coaching staff (includes Sullivan and/or assistants)
(10 votes)
Poll
Sight unseen for upcoming moves, but knowing Dubas is in charge, next season I expect the Pens to be:
This poll is closed
-
0%
A division-winning team (115+ points)
(9 votes) -
21%
In the second/third place divisional race (105-114 points)
(192 votes) -
45%
A no doubt playoff team (98-104 points)
(409 votes) -
29%
Likely on the good side of the playoff bubble (93-97 points)
(263 votes) -
3%
Likely on the bad side of the playoff bubble (88-92 points)
(30 votes) -
0%
Playoff non-factor (87 or less)
(2 votes)
Poll
The age old question, with the 2023 first round pick Kyle Dubas’ first choice should be to:
This poll is closed
-
64%
Trade it for fair value to gain immediate NHL help
(569 votes) -
35%
Keep the pick to boost the talent level in the system
(313 votes)
Poll
After the moves of last two months (firing Burke/Hextall, hiring Dubas), what response best captures where you are with FSG as ownership:
This poll is closed
-
3%
Didn’t much like them then, still don’t care for them now
(29 votes) -
26%
Decent enough changes but overall feel suspicious/cautious about them as owners, they haven’t won me over at this point
(227 votes) -
28%
They’ve gained my respect, I didn’t trust them that much a few months ago, but I’m on board with them now
(246 votes) -
34%
Was neutral/somewhat satisfied with FSG before, growing as comfortable with their stewardship as you can get with a conglomerate now
(294 votes) -
2%
I liked them a lot from the start and have been big fans of their style and it has only grown with time
(25 votes) -
4%
It doesn’t really matter to me what ownership’s actions are, that type of thing doesn’t stand out/I don’t feel strongly about whatever they want to do
(38 votes)
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