What an extraordinary snub from Kyle Dubas to his former team.
Dubas was named president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday morning … just 29 minutes before the start of the press conference for his successor as Maple Leafs general manager, Brad Treliving.
Dubas must not hate such synchronicity. According to reports from Toronto for a week, his departure seems more related to a power struggle between Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and him.
This 37-year-old Ontario manager not only found a job ten days after his dismissal, but he now occupies a position as prestigious as that of Shanahan.
There will be challenges in Pittsburgh. Dubas must initially appoint a general manager. He replaces Brian Burke, but the post of CEO Ron Hextall is still not filled. Will Coach Mike Sullivan move from the bench to the administrative desks, as some rumors suggest?
The new leaders of the Penguins will have their hands tied at the start. No NHL club is older, and Pittsburgh missed the playoffs this spring after four straight losses in the first round or earlier (in the preliminary tournament in the Toronto bubble in 2020).
It would be difficult to rebuild on the spot since the three mainstays of the team, Sidney Crosby, Kristopher Letang and Evgeni Malkin, are all 35 or older and are under contract for at least two more seasons. A fourth important player, Jeff Petry, also 35, has two more years on his contract as well.
The Penguins would probably have entered the playoffs with the current core, had it not been for blunders by Ron Hextall, believe several observers. Goalkeepers Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith failed again. Hextall trusted them despite the warning signs.
Hextall replaced Mike Matheson and John Marino with Petry and Ty Smith. Matheson became the No. 1 defenseman in Montreal, with 34 points in 48 games, 58 points prorated from an 82-game season, and 24:27 UT.
Marino shone with the Devils in a more defensive role, against top opposing lines. No New Jersey player has been used more in the playoffs, not even Dougie Hamilton. Petry has been inconsistent in Pittsburgh. Smith spent most of the winter in the American League.
Dubas and his next GM will first have to find a number one goalkeeper. Jarry will be entitled to full autonomy in a month and we will probably not remember him given his lackluster season.
A few good goaltenders will be available on the free agent market, including Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights playoff hero Adin Hill. John Gibson, of the Anaheim Ducks, would be on the market for a few seasons, but we should not expect to see the young Carter Hart leave Philadelphia, if we trust the declarations of Daniel Brière, the new GM of the Flyers.
Toronto also needed a goaltender heading into last season. The acquisition of Matt Murray by Dubas was a disaster. The Leafs received third- and seventh-round picks in addition to his services, but Murray was bad, or injured (again) last winter and his salary will take $4.6 million off the team’s payroll for another season. Signing Ilya Samsonov for a year was much more successful, even though he fell in the playoffs.
Given the Penguins’ contractual situation, the new management will no doubt be asked to make a last ditch attempt to win the Stanley Cup in the coming seasons, while keeping in mind a way to rejuvenate the troops as much as possible, perilous exercise if there ever was one.
The prospect pool is obviously empty with just two first-round picks in eight vintages since 2015, and six of eight second-round picks traded, retired or lost for good in Europe.
The Penguins hold at least the 14th overall pick in the upcoming draft. They haven’t spoken this early since the selection of Derrick Pouliot in 2012, a choice obtained in the trade of Jordan Staal in Carolina. They don’t have a second-round pick, though.
Good luck Mr. Dubas!
The new Maple Leafs general manager, Brad Treliving, seemed to have charmed the gallery at his first press conference in Toronto on Thursday morning with his humor and ideas for improving the team. He plans to go to Arizona as soon as possible to convince Auston Matthews to sign a long-term agreement with the organization.
Hirings follow one another and resemble each other. All had also fallen under the spell during the presentation of his predecessors, Dubas, Lou Lamoriello, Dave Nonis, Brian Burke and John Ferguson son.
Treliving must take advantage of the present moment. Honeymoons are always very short in Toronto and his record with the Flames does not announce grandiose decisions. Let’s give him the chance to make amends. But the critics will be cruel if the Leafs don’t win at least one series, if not two, next year with the current core.
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