One of former GM Jim Rutherford’s notable strengths during his black-and-gold tenure was his ability to correct his mistakes.
If he made a bobble, it generally didn’t take him too long to square things up.
A case in point, scoring winger David Perron. After notching nine goals in his first 16 games in the ‘Burgh, Perron turned stone cold and pretty much stayed iced over throughout the remainder of his 82 games with the Pens.
Burning the midnight oil, GMJR parlayed the snakebitten Perron into speedy, puck-hunting forward Carl Hagelin, a deal that crystalized his team’s attacking style and helped propel the Pens to back-to-back Cups.
Ditto firing professorial coach Mike Johnston early in the 2015-16 season and replacing him with fiery Mike Sullivan.
I see the same quality in our present POHO/GM Kyle Dubas. He seems to possess a Midas touch when it comes to cleaning up mistakes, not all of his doing, while turning shine into Shinola.
His Erik Karlsson for a bunch-of-guys-we-no-longer-wanted blockbuster in the summer of 2023 was an absolute masterpiece of GMing. So, for that matter, was last season’s shedding of Tristan Jarry and faded prospect Sam Poulin for two solid players (Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner) and a second-round pick. To say nothing of the Egor Chinakhov for journeyman Danton Heinen and two picks heist.
I still marvel every time I stop to consider those trades.
Again, masterful.
Heck, just about every move Dubas has made since the 2025 trade deadline has improved the team. Some, like the aforementioned trades, have reaped significant dividends. Others, such as the Ilya Solovyov and Elmer Söderblom deals moved the needle in smaller increments. Still, nearly all have added value.
Too, Dubas seems to have a knack for knowing when to say when on prospects who aren’t cutting it, 2023 third-round pick Emil Pieniniemi the latest example. Before that, Poulin, Isaac Belliveau and Valtteri Puustinen.
Nurse Coming This Way?
I profess, I didn’t put a ton of stock into initial reports that Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse might be interested in joining the Pens…and vice versa. His rather onerous cap hit and term for one ($9.25 million through the ’29-30 season). His age (31) along with a dip in output and effectiveness this past season for another.
Yet rumors persist that a deal will, indeed, get done. This from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period:
“Pittsburgh may be No.1 on Darnell Nurse’s list of five teams he would waive for, and the Penguins and Oilers have been discussing a potential trade. Edmonton GM Stan Bowman is not going to rush into a move, but some believe we’ll see a trade around the NHL Draft.”
Shawn Sinclair of NHL Trade Rumors took it a step further, suggesting the Pens and Oilers are working on “a significant trade” involving the rangy blueliner.
“Dubas loves Nurse’s game,” he wrote “and the two have known each other for a very long time, dating back to Sault Ste. Marie.”
Sinclair then suggested that long-time Pens mainstay Bryan Rust may be part of the package going the other way.
Yikes.
At age 34, I know “Trusty Rusty” ain’t gettin’ any younger. Eventually, his gritty, hustling style is going to catch up with him. But dealing the seven-time 20-goal scorer for Nurse would blow a canyon-sized hole through our top six forwards, one I doubt we’d be able to effectively fill.
Unless we receive one of the Oilers’ promising young forwards such as Vasily Podkolzin, Matthew Savoie or Isaac Howard as part of the return package, I’d still pass on Nurse.
Which, given my track record for predictions, probably means it’s a done deal.
Welcome Back Ronny Franchise
I was very pleased to see the Pens welcome Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis back to the fold. “Ronny Franchise” rejoined the team on June 19 as a Special Advisor, Hockey Operations.
Following an exemplary 23-season NHL career, including seven-plus seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Pens, Francis entered into management with the Hurricanes, assuming the GM reins from Rutherford in 2014.
Most recently, he served as the first GM of the Kraken and was the architect of the club that derailed the defending Cup champ Avs in the ’23 playoffs. Last season he was bumped upstairs to make way for former Pens exec Jason Botterill.
In case you were wondering, Francis, too, hails from Sault Ste. Marie.
More important, just a first-class guy, through and through.
