Penguins Update: The Dubas Plan

Hello fellow Poopers. Per my usual, I’m arriving late to the party. But I thought I’d chime in with a few thoughts in the wake of the Kyle Dubas presser yesterday.

As the old saying goes, a failure to plan is a plan to fail. Well, Dubas has a definite plan for our Penguins. I won’t delve into too many details…that’s already been done quite well on other sites (the advantage of arriving late). But, in a nutshell, here are the main tenets:

1. He won’t be adding any big-ticket free agents (wise).
2. He prefers not to use buyouts as a way of clearing dead weight (aka Mikael Granlund).
3. He plans to weaponize our $20 million-plus of cap space, possibly targeting teams like the Bruins, Canucks, Oilers and Wild that are facing huge cap-related issues.
4. He’ll work to upgrade our bottom-six forwards. He won’t be doling out long-term contacts (Brock McGinn) to do it.
5. He’ll address potential contracts for our own big-three UFAs at the NHL Entry Draft next week. Won’t read too much into this, but it doesn’t sound like Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry and/or Brian Dumoulin will be back unless they agree to team-friendly deals (and even if they would).
6. He wants to grow our puddle-ish pool of young talent and isn’t like to part with prospects or draft picks unless he can secure “impactful, young” talent in return.
7. He’s developing a working relationship (and an implied appreciation) for coach Mike Sullivan.

All-in-all, very prudent and well-thought. And, hey, at least Dubas has a plan. I’m reminded that around this time last year FSG asked former GM Ron Hextall to communicate his plan for the offseason and he balked, insisting the design was in his head but difficult to articulate. Then again, Hexy was an introvert filling a role that requires a more forceful personality.

Anyway, it reinforces the notion that our Pens are in good hands with Dubas and that he’s fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

A few random thoughts. Even if Dubas bats 1.000 this summer, I think we’ll struggle to make the playoffs next season. There are just so many holes to fill and obstacles to work around (Granlund, Jeff Carter). Our core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang…great as they are…ain’t gettin’ any younger. And with teams like Buffalo, Ottawa and maybe Columbus on the rise…

None for Me, Thanks

Bruins forward Taylor Hall is being bandied about in some circles as a potential replacement for Zucker. He’s signed at a cap hit of $6 million for the next two seasons, likely more than we’d pay for “Zucks,” but probably with less term.

Although Hall still possesses blazing speed and high-end skill, he isn’t player he was when he earned the Hart Trophy with the Devils in 2017-18.

To draw comparisons, he and Zucker are both 31 and have both been a bit injury prone over the past few seasons. According to reports, Hall loves playing in Boston and wants to stay put. I have flashbacks of an unhappy Hall scoring two goals in 37 games for the Sabres prior to his arrival in Beantown.

No thanks.

Ditto teammate Matt Grzelcyk, a small (5’10” 176-pound) portside defenseman rumored to be in play. He has one year left at a cap hit of $3.69 million.

A Little Love for Hexy?

Our former GM has received mounds of criticism for our current state of affairs, much of it merited. But in Hextall’s defense, he tried to improve the team down the stretch last season.

He was rumored to be in heavy negotiations to acquire Pittsburgh-native and 82-point scorer J.T. Miller from the Canucks, but wisely refused to part with Jim Rutherford’s asking price of two first-round picks and other assets.

He also tried to acquire bristling Panthers hit-man Radko Gudas, who he had in Philly, but was rebuffed.

Either or both would’ve added much-needed abrasiveness and fire to our mix, although Miller would’ve considerably tightened our long-term salary cap noose.

Hextall also kicked the tires on Sullivan favorite and former Coyote defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who preferred to go to a rising young team in Ottawa.

But, hey, at least Hexy was trying.