Rumor: Dubas has told other teams "everyone is available, except 87."”

[IcedCapp]

Nah, its just funny seeing the self-proclaimed boy wonder completely crater an entire team to the bottom of the league standings in not even 2 years while he was under the impression to try and stay competitive.

Meanwhile a team like Washington is doing what they're doing.

can you please link to where Dubas called himself a 'boy wonder,' thanks!

 

[HockeyVirus]

I’d be willing to pay whatever it took to land Malkin TBH

Thank god you are not our GM. Knies for Malkin with a foot in a retirement home would be instantly a top 5 worst trade in franchise history.. and we got some bad ones

 

[K Fleur]

Malkin would be a f***ing god in Toronto.

Could show their star players how to actually show up in the playoffs too.

 

[IcedCapp]

What do the 2 Cups won in 2016-17 have to do with GMJR wanting to trade Letang in 2021?

Sorry, I guess I don't understand what you meant when you were talking about the Caps and keeping picks.

The Penguins have been one of, if not the most, successful teams in the post-lockout era. They obviously could have made different/better decisions in some spots, but this is the expected outcome for a team that has won this much.

Aside from that, I grow tired of seeing Leafs fans, most of whom were not only not alive the last time the Leafs were a successful franchise, but their parents were probably teens at the time, telling others how much they know about winning.

There is no scenario where the Penguins were winning a cup in 2023 or 2024. If Dubas has to keep Sid, Malkin, Letang, and Sullivan, I'm struggling to understand what people want from him in terms of success.

This is clearly the wrong approach. They are:

• The oldest team in the league: NHL Team Biometrics: Average Age, Height, and Weight | leftwinglock.com
  • Even worse, their best players are REALLY old. Geno's 38, Sid and Letang are both 37, Karlsson's 34. Teams like Edmonton, Toronto and Carolina are also up there in terms of average age, but their best players are mostly in their mid-to-late 20s, but with Pittsburgh, their best players are in their mid-to-late 30s, big difference
• Have the 5th worst point percentage in the league, and are tied (with Montreal) for the absolute worst goal differential in the league: NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com

When you're old and terrible, a "tear-it-down-to-the-studs rebuild" is precisely what's required. And it's not like this is an overreaction to a slow start, they've been declining for some time too - missed the playoffs the last 2 years, and either missed the playoffs or lost in round 1 the last 6 years. They're only getting older, I'd put good money on them never making the playoffs again with a Crosby/Malkin/Karlsson/Letang lead core. Their core is just too old, the depth sucks too, and the youth isn't even very promising (lots of extra 2nd+ round picks coming up in future drafts, but their current prospects and young NHLers are weak), there's clearly no hope for the current core.

What's going on here is likely one of:

1. Dubas is an idiot, and doesn't realize that a true rebuild is necessary
2. Or, ownership is afraid of the financial costs of a true rebuild. The Penguins were in massive financial trouble pre-Crosby, despite having won B2B cups about a dozen years before Crosby was drafted. This was definitely not just fans fleeing during hard times, the ownership group was very incompetent too, but regardless the Pens declared bankruptcy and nearly left Pittsburgh. The new owners could simply be scared that the team's finances would plummet too hard with a true rebuild, and won't allow it

And I'd certainly guess 2. Dubas has his issues, but he's still a knowledgable hockey guy, I have to imagine he sees the need for a true rebuild, but ownership won't let it happen.

Golly gee willikers, it's nice seeing someone exercise a bit of common sense around here. Feels like I need to mark it on my calendar.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Malkin would be a f***ing god in Toronto.

Could show their star players how to actually show up in the playoffs too.

No one is disputing that. Not for Knies though. That's just insanity surely most Pens fans know that.

 

[Edgelord]

Malkin would be a f***ing god in Toronto.

Could show their star players how to actually show up in the playoffs too.

can't afford him and have nothing that works trade wise

 

[CupofOil]

Wherever Dubas goes, chaos ensues!

Chaos in this case is good for the Pens, They've needed to blow it up for a while.

 

[Pancakes]

Would you actually trust a guy like Dubas who isn't qualified to work in hockey ops to hire a coach though?

Meh, bad GMs have heaters all the time.

You do realize I cheer for a team that had Jim Rutherford guide us to two cups, right? JR was considered a pretty shit GM when the Pens hired him. And outside of that brief window where he went on a tremendous heater and made nothing but right decisions he largely was. His tenure outside of the two cups with the Pens was terrible. But he still got the two cups.

If JR can string together a good stretch, so can Dubas.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

What’s the difference between the retool Washington is doing and what Pittsburgh wants to do

Washington was able to maintain a decent prospect system to add some depth and did low bargain, high reward transactions that have helped (Strome, PLD).

Pens haven't.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Meh, bad GMs have heaters all the time.

You do realize I cheer for a team that had Jim Rutherford guide us to two cups, right? JR was considered a pretty shit GM when the Pens hired him. And outside of that brief window where he went on a tremendous heater and made nothing but right decisions he largely was. His tenure outside of the two cups with the Pens was terrible. But he still got the two cups.

If JR can string together a good stretch, so can Dubas.

Ironically, JR was only seen as a good GM largely because he fleeced Dubas for everything he had on the Kessel deal lol

 

[K Fleur]

No one is disputing that. Not for Knies though. That's just insanity surely most Pens fans know that.

Meh Knies is cool but to win a cup you have to be bold.

I think acting like losing Knies(for one of the best playoff performers ever, who is still really f***ing good)would be some franchise altering move is kinda silly.

 

[Pancakes]

Ironically, JR was only seen as a good GM largely because he fleeced Dubas for everything he had on the Kessel deal lol

That's not giving him enough credit. During that stretch when he won the two cups he made like a dozen really good moves.

He predictably went right back to being an awful gm after that but he had his run.

If JR can have a run, anyone can.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Meh Knies is cool but to win a cup you have to be bold.

I think acting like losing Knies(for one of the best playoff performers ever, who is still really f***ing good)would be some franchise altering move is kinda silly.

Nah this is a crazy take. Knies is 21 and already a top 6 forward (and most importantly our most physical forward). Malkin is a legend, but he is going to be 39 in short order and has a long history of injuries.

We would literally be trading a power forward on his ELC for a hope and a prayer. Would be absolute insanity. Day 1 one of the worst trades the Leafs ever made only undone by the slim chance Malkin is what the Leafs have missed to now suddenly be able to win 4 playoff rounds

 

[Empoleon8771]

Ironically, JR was only seen as a good GM largely because he fleeced Dubas for everything he had on the Kessel deal lol

Blaming Dubas for the Kessel deal just shows how dishonest Leafs fans are with their evaluation of Dubas.

He was a co-interim GM with Hunter while Shanahan and Babcock were the ones actually calling the shots.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Sorry, I guess I don't understand what you meant when you were talking about the Caps and keeping picks.

The Penguins have been one of, if not the most, successful teams in the post-lockout era. They obviously could have made different/better decisions in some spots, but this is the expected outcome for a team that has won this much.

Aside from that, I grow tired of seeing Leafs fans, most of whom were not only not alive the last time the Leafs were a successful franchise, but their parents were probably teens at the time, telling others how much they know about winning.

There is no scenario where the Penguins were winning a cup in 2023 or 2024. If Dubas has to keep Sid, Malkin, Letang, and Sullivan, I'm struggling to understand what people want from him in terms of success.

All good and LOL at the bolded part!!

I would never trade any of the past 20 years, I couldn't have cared less about the picks traded in order to win, I have to say maybe the Reaves trade pissed me off for the 1st time !! lol

Other than that, it's been since the in round loss to the Habs that this ship has been going downhill, It's enough now in my opinion and just rebuild already. They're just making it worse and longer

 

[HockeyVirus]

Blaming Dubas for the Kessel deal just shows how dishonest Leafs fans are with their evaluation of Dubas.

He was a co-interim GM with Hunter while Shanahan and Babcock were the ones actually calling the shots.

It was pretty well reported at the time that Dubas handled most of that trade deal because Hunter was managing our draft and free agency. If it makes you feel better Hunter sucked too.

 

[K Fleur]

Nah this is a crazy take. Knies is 21 and already a top 6 forward (and most importantly our most physical forward). Malkin is a legend, but he is going to be 39 in short order and has a long history of injuries.

We would literally be trading a power forward on his ELC for a hope and a prayer. Would be absolute insanity. Day 1 one of the worst trades the Leafs ever made only undone by the slim chance Malkin is what the Leafs have missed to now suddenly be able to win 4 playoff rounds

Ok cool. Run it back with the same crew and go for that cup. Maybe the 9th time is the charm.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Ok cool. Run it back with the same crew and go for that cup. Maybe the 9th time is the charm.

That's crazy. As if the only two options are run it back or make a franchise altering terrible trade.

 

[Ulf5]

Dubas is doing Team Canada and I think Guerin is doing Team USA, isn't he? So scouting those two teams makes sense I guess.

Or, as I suggest on the Habs board, it could be Dubas wanting to send Jarry to Montreal but having to take back a similar contract like Gallagher or Anderson. So he could be scouting either to see if they would provide any net positive.

Dubas wouldn't have Spezza and Kessel with him if he was scouting for Canada.

 

[biturbo19]

C'mom Ruthervin...trade for Letang you cowards.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It was pretty well reported at the time that Dubas handled most of that trade deal because Hunter was managing our draft and free agency. If it makes you feel better Hunter sucked too.

I don't doubt that Dubas did have a say at the time. I just think it's silly to throw shit at him for that deal when:

1. Babcock and Shanahan had determined Kessel was to be traded and the Penguins were the only real suitor.
2. The Leafs still ended up getting a decent return for Kessel considering the situation and how bad Kessel was to end the previous season.

Getting Kapanen and a 1st for that is about the best that the Leafs were ever going to be able to get for him. Not only that, but Dubas then later turned Kapanen into another 1st and Hallander from JR a few years later.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Did you watch the games? I watched at least 80% of them. Their style was not suited for the playoffs and their record shows that. If you’re a devils fan you will enjoy the playoff failures coming

I’d like to hear, specifically, what your issue was with their defensive play, and why coaching was responsible for this. “Not suited for the playoffs” is a pretty good tell that you’re speaking nonsense.

 

[Benstheman]

Habs want Crosby

 

[branch]

I want Karlsson back

 

[Xirik]

Habs want Crosby

The offer would have to be something the Penguins can't refuse and I don't think the Hab's are willing to do that.