GM Kyle Dubas has Condemned the Pittsburgh Penguins

Whether they are willing to admit it or not, loyalty is a driving sentiment for hockey players. Moreover, that characteristic is reflected in all aspects of the game. “Hometown Discounts" exist almost exclusively in the NHL, with players prioritizing fealty over financial compensation. Players consistently step up for each other at the slightest perceived injustice. And you never speak ill of a teammate in public.

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More importantly, there are consequences for people forsaking hockey’s unwritten rules. 

With his latest move, Kyle Dubas has seemingly upset that balance. And that could signal the end for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jake Guentzel Blunder

Dubas exhibited his flaws again at the trade deadline. With Pittsburgh’s playoff aspirations fading fast, he elected to move tenured scoring winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes for a former pet project, two relatively unknown commodities, and underwhelming draft picks. 

Somehow, the draft picks make the deal look even worse. The conditional first-round draft pick should have been listed as a second-rounder for all intents and purposes. The Pens only claim the first-round selection if Carolina wins three playoff rounds. Moreover, the fifth-round selection only transfers to the Pens if Carolina wins the Cup.

Guentzel was instrumental in the Penguins’ latest Stanley Cup win. Now, instead of helping them make a move up the standings, he’s a primary candidate to lead the Hurricanes on an equally successful playoff run.

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Warning Signs

Last summer’s contract negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs may have been the warning sign everyone overlooked. In an attempt to leverage his position with the Maple Leafs for a more significant payday, Dubas effectively ended his tenure. 

Those below-the-line actions directly oppose the values hockey players prioritize the most. Further, it should have been a warning sign that Dubas was most interested in insulating himself.

Bad Trade History

Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen the Penguins’ brass continue to make similar mistakes. 

To protect Jeff Carter in the 2021 Expansion Draft, the team moved Jared McCann to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That move is analogous to the Guentzel deal and all of the Pens’ recent struggles. 

The trade issues are deeply rooted in Pittsburgh. For years, the team has traded away draft picks and future pieces for NHL-ready players that haven’t panned out. Pittsburgh has invested heavily in acquiring Reilly Smith, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, with none of those players excelling. Smith and Rakell have combined for 56 points in 106 games this season, while Karlsson’s 43 points are nowhere close to his career-best mark of 101. 

Those moves resulted in a decrease in scoring and Pittsburgh’s playoff run ending in 2023.

It’s unfair to saddle all of those missteps on Dubas. But in retrospect, Dubas’ trades since taking over have made the team worse, and the Guentzel trade, in particular, will be considered the final nail in the coffin.

Signs of Failure

If Dubas was willing to pay attention, he would see the writing is very clearly on the wall for the Penguins. 

Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup Odds have fallen dramatically. Around the All-Star Break, the Pens were hovering as low as +2500. Since then, they’ve tumbled progressively lower until reaching a season-worst +13000 after the trade deadline. 

The lack of confidence is not only reflected in the betting market but across the locker room. 

Sidney Crosby’s Last Stand

For the first time in his career, Sidney Crosby has voiced displeasure with the organization that helped re-establish itself as a powerhouse. When the team’s captain leads the mutiny, it sends a clear message that management has failed the organization.

Final Thoughts

Kyle Dubas doesn’t reward loyalty. And that strategy has upset the balance of one of the most dominant franchises of the past 20 years.

Three Stanley Cups, four division titles, and at least four Hall of Famers later, the Penguins dynasty has come to an end. Rather than going down with the ship, the Penguins’ captain follows Dubas’ lead and sacrifices his loyalty. 

This is the beginning of the end for the Penguins, and the burden lies squarely on Dubas’ shoulders.

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