Confirmed with Link: Kyle Dubas named President of Hockey Operations

[steelcityassault]

I’m told that the turning point in negotiations was when Sid and Kyle were sitting down to lunch in a primanti bros. Sid took Kyle’s hand and said,

“I heard what they did to you in Toronto. That’s not how we do it in Pittsburgh, my sweet.”

Kyle reportedly fell to his knees and wept, screaming, “I’m home. I’m finally home.”

And then proceeded to play hardball for the next week

he got the Angus steak sammy too. Didn't even go straight Pittsburgher. What a guy

 

[Lara Emily]

We’ll see. Dubas has his work cut out for himself for sure.

Oh that we agree on

The Pens suck

 

[HandshakeLine]

My brother in christ @HandshakeLine lets act like you are wrong until you aren't, it's more fun being happy in the meantime

I’m not depressed or anything. I just think a lot of yinz are playing yourselves.

If Dubas finds a way to beat it into the team’s head that boring ass hockey sucks, I’ll gladly eat crow.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

We've all accepted the shitty reality that Sullivan is this organization's golden boy on the same level as Sid for years. /shrug

I don't think Dubas, Darche, Greeley, Botterill, Tulsky or whoever else was gonna fire Sully. I do think the fact that FSG fawned over and chased Dubas means they think of him as Sullivan's equal, so there may not be any interjection on their part if Dubas decides to fire Sully mid-season or next summer.

The issue is that Dubas, or anybody else in the hockey world, also probably thinks the world of Sullivan as a coach because of those back to backs half a decade ago. Shit, Lindy Ruff only made the Finals once and has been coasting on that for nearly three decades.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think Dubas does not come here without full autonomy.

Dubas went through that experience with Babcock. We know how that will go.

I don't claim to know what exactly the hold is Mike Sullivan has over so many people but it exists. I never at any point expected or expect him to go anywhere. The team isn't awful enough yet to have an epic slide. Dude will hang around for years, yet.

But my hope is that Dubas can actually help turn this FO into something other than a hangout spot for a bunch of crusty old doofs... and their idiot relatives shoehorned into various (sometimes important) roles.

 

[MrBurghundy]

At least he identified our problem. I don't even think Hextall knew there was a problem, let alone knew how to fix it. He also briefly identified ways he'll look to fix them.

I'll be cautiously optimistic for the time being.

 

[HandshakeLine]

It’s rad that we grew our own Lindy Ruff in a bottle, like a homunculus.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

lol come on guys... the actual BRAND of hockey is still going to be the same.

Mike Sullivan didn't go anywhere and they aren't going to tell him how to coach the team.

This only helps fix things from a asset management and front office organization POV. How many times do we really have to see that it doesn't much matter what players you give Sullivan... they all get used the same or they get traded when they cannot.

I'm interested to see how this dynamic between what Dubas tends to want from his roster and what Sullivan tends to want will work.

Dubas is the anti-Sullivan in a lot of ways. He favors skill guys who like to keep possession of the puck and make plays over defensive minded grunts. Sullivan prefers "safe" guys who can PK and will just go North/South and shoot as soon as they can.

I think the two might clash in the same way Dubas' vision for how the Leafs should play clashed with Babcock's vision for how he wanted them to play.

 

[Peat]

Wait and See again on structure and what Dubas' actual role here will be - my guess from the press conference is he's going to get his hands dirty and work out what he needs to hand off based on what needs to be done and who he can get in - but I think it's pretty clear his opinion is going to matter a lot here.

The one thing I'm a bit surprised with Dubas wanting the Pens gig is he seems to be in it for the long-term, but he came to a team that's got about a 2-3 year window before it gets blown up and started from scratch.

Tbh, I don't see why he'd have come here if he didn't see it as a long term opportunity. Short term it's a hiding to nothing, but long term, it's a chance to a wield a ton of power and set things up exactly as he sees fit.

 

[IcedCapp]

Looks like the moon is out of reach then buddy

You can read my posts anytime

 

[HandshakeLine]

I'm interested to see how this dynamic between what Dubas tends to want from his roster and what Sullivan tends to want will work.

Dubas is the anti-Sullivan in a lot of ways. He favors skill guys who like to keep possession of the puck and make plays over defensive minded grunts. Sullivan prefers "safe" guys who can PK and will just go North/South and shoot as soon as they can.

I think the two might clash in the same way Dubas' vision for how the Leafs should play clashed with Babcock's vision for how he wanted them to play.

It’s gonna rule when that happens because we will not only will have a PoHO (Hank) that isn’t on the same page with the coach, but also possibly a GM too again!

I would feel so much better about this hire without him canonizing Sully in his first presser.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I just hope the construction of the team shifts dramatically for the foreseeable future. We know the coaching of the team won't until Sullivan's replaced, or Sullivan stops being a spitefully stubborn donkey.

 

[Gurglesons]

It’s gonna rule when that happens because we will not only will have a PoHO (Hank) that isn’t on the same page with the coach, but also possibly a GM too again!

I would feel so much better about this hire without him canonizing Sully in his first presser.

What else would he do?

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Darche would just put this front office on a whole new level. Sure hope we finish this off right.

Prepare for a Dubasite instead.

 

[Lara Emily]

It’s rad that we grew our own Lindy Ruff in a bottle, like a homunculus.

If you wanna play 3C
Baby there's an overpaid wage
I'm a Sully in a bottle
Gotta be the oldest age.

 

[Andy99]

I think a discussion about whether he has the power to fire Sullivan is moot because there is no way he's going to fire Sullivan.

I don't know what additional evidence Penguins fans need to realize that Sullivan is insanely highly regarded among NHL executives and isn't going anywhere.

And therefore, to say the team will win a Cup or has a chance to win a Cup then is a boldfaced lie

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

It’s gonna rule when that happens because we will not only will have a PoHO (Hank) that isn’t on the same page with the coach, but also possibly a GM too again!

I would feel so much better about this hire without him canonizing Sully in his first presser.

At the very least, we'll get to see who truly wields more power: Boy Genius or Teflon Mike.

 

[HandshakeLine]

What else would he do?

Say everyone needs to be held accountable? I get why he did it, but a this point I’ve learned to not waste effort theorycrafting some lore about Sullivan being held accountable.

This team is going to suck with Sullivan here until the day he’s gone.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I would feel so much better about this hire without him canonizing Sully in his first presser.

That's the only point I'll give you. I didn't like hearing that either, but my hope is that Sully will perform better if he actually communicates with his GM, and they are on the same page about the correct players to acquire.

 

[Lara Emily]

You can read my posts anytime

You had me at hello.... Ronnie's got go

 

[HandshakeLine]

That's the only point I'll give you. I didn't like hearing that either, but my hope is that Sully will perform better if he actually communicates with his GM, and they are on the same page about the correct players to acquire.

Wow, a point from you. Pinch me, I’m dreaming.

 

[Anya6687]

After listening to Kyle's 1st press conference at pens POHO...honestly excited to see what he does...penguins have been stale for alot of years...go pens go

 

[Lara Emily]

Wow, a point from you. Pinch me, I’m dreaming.

*pinch*

 

[MrBurghundy]

Wow, a point from you. Pinch me, I’m dreaming.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm interested to see how this dynamic between what Dubas tends to want from his roster and what Sullivan tends to want will work.

Dubas is the anti-Sullivan in a lot of ways. He favors skill guys who like to keep possession of the puck and make plays over defensive minded grunts. Sullivan prefers "safe" guys who can PK and will just go North/South and shoot as soon as they can.

I think the two might clash in the same way Dubas' vision for how the Leafs should play clashed with Babcock's vision for how he wanted them to play.

To be clear I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud. I think this has the potential to be a really good hire. I'm not going to fawn all over the guy yet because he speaks well and looks good in a suit. If those were true markers for success... well... I'd be rolling in it by now. But still... it isn't just the subterranean bar speaking... I think he really can be good in this role and I'm excited to get a guy from well outside the organization and who isn't some old washed up player.

I'm just saying that ya'll aren't going to see some fresh new exciting approach out on the ice next year or likely for years down the road. Sullivan does what he does. Dubas and co. can idiot-proof the lineup a bit and hopefully get them younger. But you simply aren't changing how this team is deployed and how they prepare until Mike Sullivan is the guy munching nachos on his couch waiting for other teams to call.