Kyle Dubas addressed the media yesterday for the first time since December as the trade deadline looms for the Penguins.

Penguins President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas was available to the media ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 8.

Dubas: "Where we're at right now is not where we aspired to be at the beginning, and where we aspire to be now." https://t.co/g3XGYT0aJt

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 21, 2024

where we're at right now is not where we aspired to be at the beginning, and where we aspire to be now.

“On that note, I think it's important for me as the person in this position to make myself available to you all and be accountable for where we're at, and answer any questions that anybody has about the team this year to date.”

Kyle Dubas, at least publicly, seems to want to give Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang the benefit of the doubt and see the next stretch of games play out.

“But I feel that this group, respecting them and what they've accomplished in the past here, and then how proud they are – others may not agree, but I think that that's the right and fair thing to do. It's been outlined to them; they know what's at stake. We've got the last two remaining games of this homestand, (the Western Canada trip), and then we're back here again to show where we want to go. I just think that's the right and fair way to handle it now with the group.”

I think the recent stretch of games, especially the Kings game, has shown this group is not capable of competing at a high level and do not have the juice to make it happen. Without Guentzel in the lineup the team’s ability to generate offense just isn’t good enough. The depth players struggle to hit the red line to dump the puck in let alone find themselves scoring goals. I think this is the right thing to say publicly, but I don’t think the next stretch of games is going to magically change the trajectory they are on.

On Jake Guentzel

Dubas on Guentzel: "He's injured now, obviously on injured reserve."

Says how the team plays leading up to the deadline will determine the short-term answer on Guentzel's future. Understand what Guentzel has meant to PIT. But have to find a way to get younger.

— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) February 21, 2024

For me this reads as Guentzel is as good as gone. It is unfortunate because he’s been one of my favorite Penguins to watch, ever. When you consider the star power of this specific franchise that’s no small praise. He’s so crafty and cerebral and is a goal scoring machine. It is disappointing to see the current state of affairs and without an extension a trade is the most likely route at this point.

For those of you looking for a coaching change, don’t.

The short answer from Kyle Dubas on Mike Sullivan, with Pittsburgh's President/GM reiterating his respect for the Head Coach: "I think he’s the type of coach that can help you win, and also develop people and players. I don’t think there needs to be any discussion about Mike."

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 21, 2024

Well, there it is. Sullivan who has has multiple years left on his contract appears to be set to serve all of them. Dubas isn’t looking at him as a win now coach as much as he’s being viewed as the right developmental coach. This is another wink and nudge towards the team being sellers.

When asked if there's a chance the Penguins could become buyers, Kyle Dubas said ultimately, at this point, he can't see them moving future draft capital to bolster the team. But nothing is off the table.

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 21, 2024

Draft capital is one of the few things they could use to be buyers so when he says they aren’t going to use it you can only infer they are going to be sellers, or worse, do nothing.

I’m going to read the tea leaves on this next one

Kyle Dubas, on if having a player like Sidney Crosby prevents the Penguins from doing a complete rebuild:

"When you have players like that, they prevent you from getting there because they're too good. What they can pass onto players coming into the organization, it's…

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 21, 2024

The way I’m reading this one is that the Penguins want Sidney Crosby in a mentorship role as the team heads into the abyss of a rebuild. This will be the fork in the road for Crosby and the Penguins franchise. Does he want this type of role or does he still want to play meaningful hockey while he is contributing at a high level? It’s a question only Sidney Crosby can answer and whatever that answer is I will support his choice unquestionably. He deserves to do whatever the hell he wants to do.

Asked if he considers Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson to be the core, Dubas said he hopes the Penguins can add younger players to help them.

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 21, 2024

I think the way this will play out is we will see seasons like the one the Penguins are currently going through except the depth players won’t be aging they’ll be younger trying to find their footing. The ultimate end result will be similar. By the time the younger players find their footing the core players won’t be in a position to be core players anymore. I could of course be wrong if they knock it out of the park finding these younger players, but the hit rates in drafting and the nature of the time frame it takes prospects doesn’t seem to fit that timeline. Hitting a grand slam on a Jake Guentzel trade is a necessary first step here.

Kyle Dubas spoke highly of the fans here in Pittsburgh, and said his message to them is essentially that "everything we do is with the intention of delivering a championship contender without them going through years of pain to get there."

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) February 21, 2024

The thing is I think most Penguins fans have mentally signed up for years of pain. They know what the deal is. They know how the draft lottery works. They know how the Penguins have acquired their legendary super stars over the years. Unfortunately, the way the NHL is set up you have to not only go through pain, but you need to get lucky on a lottery. You don’t want to be the Buffalo Sabres who more times than not find themselves drafting in the 8-16 range. Real pain is toiling in mediocrity.

It’s going to be a while before another Penguins Stanley Cup and that’s OK. They’ve been one of the most successful franchises in league history with some of the coolest players to ever lace them up and you’ll get to watch them for a couple of more years still doing cool things, team success not withstanding.

Thanks for reading!

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