Penguins hire Dubas as president of hockey operations

*Photo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*

   There's a new head man in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Kyle Dubas as their next president of hockey operations, according to a Thursday announcement by the Penguins.

   Brian Burke was fired as president of hockey operations following the 2022-2023 season, the first time the Penguins missed the playoffs since the 2005-2006 season. The Penguins also fired GM Ron Hextall, with Dubas currently handling the duties of president of hockey operations and GM.

   Fenway Sports group owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner said in a statement that "Throughout his career, Kyle has proven himself as a forward-thinking hockey mind and embodies all of the qualities, integrity, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to building a winning culture, that we value in a leader at the Penguins. We have done exhaustive work narrowing down candidates throughout this process, but it did not take long to be impressed by Kyle, the reputation he's cultivated for himself in and around the National Hockey League, and his vision for the organization on and off the ice."

   Dubas previously worked as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, being fired shortly after they were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round against the Florida Panthers. This past year was the only year the Maple Leafs advanced past the first round in the 5 years Dubas was the GM.

   With Dubas at the helm, the Maple Leafs went 221-109-42 with a .651 points percentage. He now runs a Penguins squad with a core 3 of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, with the core helping the Penguins win 3 Stanley Cup championships.

   Dubas said in a press conference that "I see this task ahead of us as a two-pronged effort. In the short run, it's to continue to make decisions that are going to allow the team to be competitive while the core group of players that have led the team to championships in the past continue to perform at the levels that they have for as long as they can. At the same time, we'll also begin at delivering a long-term hockey organization that can be the class of the NHL. And to reduce any gap in time that there otherwise could be from the end of those great players' careers to the next era of great hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins."

   The Penguins have a decision to make this offseason regarding pending UFA goalie Tristan Jarry, with Casey DeSmith being the backup to Jarry the past few seasons. Dubas will also begin the search for the team's next general manager.