Penguins Report Card: How Is Kyle Dubas Doing?
With nothing in particular to write about, I thought I’d take a gander at how Penguins’ POHO/GM Kyle Dubas has fared after two seasons on the job.
Since arriving as a big-splash hire in June of 2023 to replace the disgraced duo of Ron Hextall and Brian Burke, by my unofficial count he’s signed 23 free agents who’ve skated for the Pens (including PTOs and Filip Hållander), made four waiver claims and a dozen trades. That’s a whole lot of activity in a relatively short time span.
The results? Perhaps not quite what we…or he…might’ve hoped for or expected. Two non-playoff seasons and a gradual, if controlled regression segueing into a retool/rebuild.
I guess my bottom-line question is, is Dubas doing a good job?
Personally, I’d say he’s exceeded expectations in some areas while falling short in others.
First, what he’s done well. Dubas has transformed an organization that was practically bankrupt in terms of prospects and draft capital and made us flush, at least in the latter category. According to PuckPedia, the Pens have 30 selections spread over the next three Entry Drafts, including 18 in the top-three rounds.