Grabbing low-hanging fruit for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins is straightforward. Nevertheless, when you take a look at his historical past as a normal supervisor within the Nationwide Hockey League, he tends to make one massive mistake in his first yr in his new place.
The primary got here in Toronto when he signed John Tavares to a seven-year contract with an AAV of $11 million. Now, Tavares has accomplished his half. Nevertheless, this season has not been very best for Tavares. To not point out, the staff didn’t win throughout his time there. Many anticipated Tavares and the Maple Leafs to have a Stanley Cup by now.
Kyle Dubas Has Robust Choice Relating to Jake Guentzel
The Maple Leafs have had one playoff collection win since 2004, and it was due to John Tavares in 2023. Toronto had different possibilities, however the massive boys didn’t do their half. In 2021, within the Canadian Playoff Bracket, Tavares received injured, and that was one of the best likelihood for the Leafs to make a deeper run, however we’ll by no means know what might need been.
Nevertheless, regardless of his good stats of 400 factors (175 targets and 225 assists), the Maple Leafs wanted different areas or positions to fill, primarily between the pipes and on protection.
The Maple Leafs might have discovered their goalie in Joseph Woll, however they nonetheless want somebody to again him up, whether or not that’s Ilya Samsonov or another person. Time will inform. The large concern is on protection. Toronto doesn’t have a stud number-one defenseman.
Morgan Rielly is an efficient participant and is taking part in on the highest pair, however they want another person to place them over the sting as a result of that has been an space of weak point since Tavares arrived in Toronto. You construct from the again out, and the Maple Leafs are so top-heavy that cash may have been used to fill these wants as a substitute.
It has come up for the Maple Leafs since Tavares received to Toronto, and it will likely be fascinating to see how they proceed when his contract is up.
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After Kyle Dubas’s unusual departure from Toronto, he went to Pittsburgh. The Penguins’ possession group was nonetheless within the mindset of giving Sidney Crosby one of the best likelihood to win one other Stanley Cup.
Because of this Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have been prolonged in 2022 when the earlier administration was nonetheless there. Though that administration group knew a rebuild was needed at the moment.
Nevertheless, with Dubas in cost, the Penguins traded for Erik Karlsson. He has been the numerous cause the Penguins are struggling, however his level manufacturing just isn’t what it was in San Jose, particularly his power-play factors. Pittsburgh has one of many worst energy performs within the league.
However regardless of Karlsson’s historical past in San Jose taking part in alongside one other high man like Brent Burns earlier than he was traded to Carolina, Pittsburgh made the commerce anyway. Nevertheless, most knew there was not sufficient puck to go round with Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Jake Guetnzel once they have been all on the ability play.
Whereas Karlsson’s $11 million cap hit is decreased because of the Sharks retaining cash, the Penguins didn’t want him. That they had different areas to deal with. Depth scoring was one space. The commerce for Reilly Smith has not labored out. Rickard Rakell is what he’s now. To not point out, the re-signing of Tristan Jarry and the cash given to Ryan Graves weren’t the strikes Pittsburgh wanted to make.
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However getting Karlsson damage the Penguins prospect pool, and Kyle Dubas needed to commerce Guentzel on the deadline. Possibly they’ll re-sign him, however that may be a massive IF when he will get to market. The cash used for Karlsson may have been spent on Guentzel to maintain him there, not on a long-term deal however on a mid-range settlement to quiet the Sidney Crosby rumours.
Once more, the present Penguins possession needed one other title, however it has not labored out. It additionally proves that Dubas didn’t must get $11 million to maintain the staff related.
The Karlsson deal by Kyle Dubas will set the Penguins again additional than the Tavares deal did in Toronto. Dubas made a tricky determination on Guentzel; he in all probability didn’t need to make all of it due to one transfer in the summertime.
Solely time will inform if his two pricey $11 million errors have been price it. Proper now, they aren’t.
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