He had scored 10 already that season of the trade to us with Atlanta, then scored 2 more with us.

The thing with Dupuis is that he had some high-end skill (great shot) and had decent NHL production prior to coming to the Pens. His play had fallen off as he got close to 30 (and he was scratched some games in the 09 Cup run), so yes his resurgence was a surprise, but the skill was always there and when he rededicated himself to off-ice conditioning and came into that 2009 season in great shape, he worked his way up into the top 6.

Just a totally different situation to Harkins, who is a true grinder lacking in any high-end skillset that I can see. The coaches also will see him in practice every day. They certainly know if there's a world-class shot that hasn't been unlocked in game situations. (Doesn't seem like it to me.)
- MickV

I don’t know man. He gets the puck almost every time he’s in a battle in the corner, gets room and gets it back to the point. The way the top six is currently that’s an upgrade to the 2nd line.

I’m starting to put this season, if they do miss the playoffs, on dubas. He has had plenty of time to evaluate. October was bad and fair enough that there was a lot of new players. But since they win some they lose some. That is who they are as a team. He should have started to tinker after Christmas. They are continuing to play … exactly the same. Inconsistently. Replace reirden/velucci if nothing else other than a wake up call. He’s going to wait till the deadline, and if that tinkering doesn’t work then there’s nothing that can be done.
- 10inchTerror

I'm not going to evaluate a GM after only 6 months on the job and inheriting some mess. Bottom 6 has one of the best bottom 6 goal differentials for the Pens in years and are contributing to a top 10 PK, top 5 at times. Yes, I'd like some more scoring there but I think its a much stronger net results group than the Pens had the season before.

My two big issues with Dubas so far are:

1) the Graves signing...even though we have discussed around here that a lot of times defenseman get better in 2nd year with new club and also that he has improved since the first few months.... and

2) not axing Reirden. I think the PP woes are more so on the players...however, the players cant be fired. Something needed to be shook up there all season, really. Showing some signs of life lately with the two unit approach, though.


The Pens had one of the best records in the league from beginning of November up to middle of December,...they lost 7-0 to the Leafs December 16th then won 6 of the next 8 games up to January 4th beating teams like Boston and Carolina in that span. They have been a very nonsensical team this season hahah...So much weird sh!t about their stats and how some things are great and other things that should be at least okay to good are terrible hahaha. Must be kind of maddening for Dubas. The team is a real Jekyll and Hyde

I'm not going to evaluate a GM after only 6 months on the job and inheriting some mess. Bottom 6 has one of the best bottom 6 goal differentials for the Pens in years and are contributing to a top 10 PK, top 5 at times. Yes, I'd like some more scoring there but I think its a much stronger net results group than the Pens had the season before.

My two big issues with Dubas so far are:

1) the Graves signing...even though we have discussed around here that a lot of times defenseman get better in 2nd year with new club and also that he has improved since the first few months.... and

2) not axing Reirden. I think the PP woes are more so on the players...however, the players cant be fired. Something needed to be shook up there all season, really. Showing some signs of life lately with the two unit approach, though.


The Pens had one of the best records in the league from beginning of November up to middle of December,...they lost 7-0 to the Leafs December 16th then won 6 of the next 8 games up to January 4th beating teams like Boston and Carolina in that span. They have been a very nonsensical team this season hahah...So much weird sh!t about their stats and how some things are great and other things that should be at least okay to good are terrible hahaha. Must be kind of maddening for Dubas. The team is a real Jekyll and Hyde
- MattStrat

I've thought about it more and I don't think just a coaching change (Sully and/or Reirden) or getting rid of Graves will do anything of importance at this point. I'd ride out the core contracts and then bring in a complete change when all is over. The Pens are not Cup contenders at all. Heck, they will probably not make the playoffs. So you cut the coaching staff, bring in someone new and ... get the same results? They are being carried by the first line and some great goaltending. The bottom 2 lines are complete waste. 2nd line is suspect - Geno is on his last legs although he does show some promise here and there, Rakell is a ghost for most part. The personnel is just not there even with fresh faces behind the bench.

I say ride out the core, ride out Sully's contract, then work on total rebuild - coaching and everything.

Agreed 100%. Everyone was out with pitchforks for Hextall because he was asleep at the wheel and not doing anything. He wasted cap space. Had a bottom 6 that couldnt score.

Dubas is doing the exact same thing, but he isn't an ex-Flyer so I guess he gets a pass.
- buckster2342

Hextall took over a team mid season that had a 68.8 points percentage, 5th best in the NHL. He then proceeded to somehow lose both McCann and Tanev in the expansion draft, and they dropped to 62.8% the next year. He then booted both Matheson and Marino for Petry and Rutta, and we missed the playoffs at 55.5%.

Dubas came in with a lot of constraints and has made them better at 5-on-5 but overall about the same results in terms of wins. Totally different situation to wreck a good lineup vs not being able to instantly fix a bad one.

I agree about the Graves signing, though I think the EK trade definitely improved them at same cap hit, Eller has been good. Overall, it's not clear what moves could've been made to really move the needle that much vs what we're watching now.

I'm not going to evaluate a GM after only 6 months on the job and inheriting some mess. Bottom 6 has one of the best bottom 6 goal differentials for the Pens in years and are contributing to a top 10 PK, top 5 at times. Yes, I'd like some more scoring there but I think its a much stronger net results group than the Pens had the season before.

My two big issues with Dubas so far are:

1) the Graves signing...even though we have discussed around here that a lot of times defenseman get better in 2nd year with new club and also that he has improved since the first few months.... and

2) not axing Reirden. I think the PP woes are more so on the players...however, the players cant be fired. Something needed to be shook up there all season, really. Showing some signs of life lately with the two unit approach, though.


The Pens had one of the best records in the league from beginning of November up to middle of December,...they lost 7-0 to the Leafs December 16th then won 6 of the next 8 games up to January 4th beating teams like Boston and Carolina in that span. They have been a very nonsensical team this season hahah...So much weird sh!t about their stats and how some things are great and other things that should be at least okay to good are terrible hahaha. Must be kind of maddening for Dubas. The team is a real Jekyll and Hyde
- MattStrat

That is who the team is. Jekyll and Hyde. There season is that of a mid six winger. Sometimes they got it sometimes they don’t. But that is who they are and that isn’t changing. They’ve shown us this. This team is really lucky this is the first year many of the metro teams are also struggling or the season would already be over.

I’m not saying dubas should be durning it down or that I’m necessarily unhappy with what he has done. But he shouldn’t have waited this long. Maybe graves (+ty smith/4th.. just spitballing) could have been shipped off for zadarov. He couldn’t be worse or maybe he would be but at least he tried. At least grinder would be happy with zadarov. Maybe a change of scenery trade for Rak or smith. A bottom 6 tweak. Replacing an assistant coach. Either of them. Both of them. Fire the Zamboni driver hahaha Idk.

Not a single call up has lasted or impressed more than a few games. I know we don’t have a lot but a few small tweaks could have started now. He started his tenure impressively with a scorched earth approach. I hope he’s not gonna end year 1 with a hextall wait and see approach. There’s no time for wait and see, and that’s just to be a playoff team let alone win a round.

I've thought about it more and I don't think just a coaching change (Sully and/or Reirden) or getting rid of Graves will do anything of importance at this point. I'd ride out the core contracts and then bring in a complete change when all is over. The Pens are not Cup contenders at all. Heck, they will probably not make the playoffs. So you cut the coaching staff, bring in someone new and ... get the same results? They are being carried by the first line and some great goaltending. The bottom 2 lines are complete waste. 2nd line is suspect - Geno is on his last legs although he does show some promise here and there, Rakell is a ghost for most part. The personnel is just not there even with fresh faces behind the bench.

I say ride out the core, ride out Sully's contract, then work on total rebuild - coaching and everything.
- chimpira

This is pretty much the only option.

I've thought about it more and I don't think just a coaching change (Sully and/or Reirden) or getting rid of Graves will do anything of importance at this point. I'd ride out the core contracts and then bring in a complete change when all is over. The Pens are not Cup contenders at all. Heck, they will probably not make the playoffs. So you cut the coaching staff, bring in someone new and ... get the same results? They are being carried by the first line and some great goaltending. The bottom 2 lines are complete waste. 2nd line is suspect - Geno is on his last legs although he does show some promise here and there, Rakell is a ghost for most part. The personnel is just not there even with fresh faces behind the bench.

I say ride out the core, ride out Sully's contract, then work on total rebuild - coaching and everything.
- chimpira

Few problems with all of that are that Sullys new 3 year extension hasn't even cut in yet, that starts next season and there is zero indication that Dubas or owners want him gone. On the contrary, in fact, they are very vocal about him staying around. Also, as long as the old guys are playing good, and on the Pens roster, they will try and win each year and not rebuild. Sid is on pace for around 90, Geno for around 70 and EK for around 60....those are great point totals and they are getting there with the PP being almost dead last in the league. So those guys are on pace for those totals with it mostly being even strength production..that is actually nuts.

That is who the team is. Jekyll and Hyde. There season is that of a mid six winger. Sometimes they got it sometimes they don’t. But that is who they are and that isn’t changing. They’ve shown us this. This team is really lucky this is the first year many of the metro teams are also struggling or the season would already be over.

I’m not saying dubas should be durning it down or that I’m necessarily unhappy with what he has done. But he shouldn’t have waited this long. Maybe graves (+ty smith/4th.. just spitballing) could have been shipped off for zadarov. He couldn’t be worse or maybe he would be but at least he tried. At least grinder would be happy with zadarov. Maybe a change of scenery trade for Rak or smith. A bottom 6 tweak. Replacing an assistant coach. Either of them. Both of them. Fire the Zamboni driver hahaha Idk.

Not a single call up has lasted or impressed more than a few games. I know we don’t have a lot but a few small tweaks could have started now. He started his tenure impressively with a scorched earth approach. I hope he’s not gonna end year 1 with a hextall wait and see approach. There’s no time for wait and see, and that’s just to be a playoff team let alone win a round.
- 10inchTerror

I agree that he should have done something sooner....and who knows, perhaps he's been trying. One thing is for sure is that there isnt a whole lot of cap space around the league this season.

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