The presence of Erik Karlsson and Kyle Dubas bring conflicting poll results for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins underwent massive changes both on the ice and in the front office this past offseason.

Between the hiring of Kyle Dubas as the new president and general manager and many changes to the lineup, the Penguins are a completely different team from the 2022-23 season.

Aside from the Dubas hire, the biggest name coming to Pittsburgh is undoubtedly Erik Karlsson.

The future Hall of Fame defenseman is coming off of a historic 101-point season, but according to a recent poll from The Hockey News (THN) Dubas could feel some buyer’s remorse over the move.

A leading 10 THN writers voted the Penguins as most likely to feel buyer’s remorse over the Karlsson addition.

Karlsson also led the way in voting as the player most likely to suffer a setback, which is all but expected when talking about a player who recorded 101 points as a defenseman.

Those sound like negatives for the Penguins, but there is a flip side to the coin.

Through the THN poll, it was decided that Karlsson’s addition will be the most impactful in the NHL.

Dubas’ addition finished second in voting for the most impactful move of the offseason, as well.

So, the Penguins face an interesting conundrum; adding Karlsson on the ice and Dubas in the front office should be a huge success, but it could also blow up in the Penguins’ face.

Karlsson has been one of the most divisive topics in the NHL ever since he was a member of the Ottawa Senators.

Now, he’s gearing up for his first season with the Penguins and looks to help them jump right back into the postseason and push for a Stanley Cup.

Dubas is also almost always a hot topic around the league; he stated his intentions to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but found a new home not long after he was fired.

No matter what way you cut it, the Penguins and their fans are in for one wild ride. 

Now, it’s up to the team to decide if it’s a fun one or not.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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