It appears Kyle Dubas might still be a possibility for the Penguins after all.
Last Monday, after another Toronto Maple Leafs season ended in disappointment, Dubas told Toronto reporters that he would either return as Leafs general manager or sit out the 2023-24 season, citing the emotional toll of the job.
As the week progressed, it looked as if Dubas would be sticking around. The Leafs were prepared to sign him to a contract extension. But in a stunning turn of events, Leafs president of hockey operations Brendan Shanahan announced Friday that Toronto would not bring Dubas back as general manager.
That led to questions about whether Dubas would change his mind and consider joining another franchise. Apparently, the Penguins are curious, too.
The Penguins have reportedly asked the Leafs for permission to interview Dubas, who remains under contract until June 30. According to Sportsnet, the Leafs have granted them permission. We will see where things go from here.
Before all the Dubas drama unfolded up north, Fenway Sports Group had been heading into the final stages of its search for a new head of hockey operations for the Penguins, whether the title would be president or just as GM.
The team is said to have granted second interviews to several candidates. They include Carolina assistant general manager Eric Tulsky, former Arizona GM John Chayka, Tampa Bay assistant GM Mathieu Darche, New Jersey assistant GM Dan MacKinnon and former Penguins executive Jason Karmanos.
But when Dubas shook free from Toronto, the Penguins were wise to try to line up a last-minute interview with him because Dubas checks a lot of boxes.
Dubas, 37, is young but experienced, having spent nine seasons in the Leafs front office. Coming from the Leafs, he knows how to work within a mega corporation like Fenway Sports Group. Dubas is analytically inclined, something that strongly appeals to FSG. And he is seen as a creative problem solver.
Sure, his track record in Toronto was not perfect. The Leafs won only one playoff series during his tenure, their first-round victory over the Lightning this spring. And he has been criticized for paying too much for Toronto's top players.
But his experience and ingenuity might be what the Penguins, who have an aging core and a challenging salary cap situation, need to maneuver their way back into Stanley Cup contention before the end of Sidney Crosby's career.
We will see what becomes of Pittsburgh's interest in Dubas and how that impacts the search for a new lead voice in hockey operations. But either way, the Penguins might be in position to announce a hire before the end of the week.
