Pittsburgh Penguins general manager made sure to handle the Jake Guentzel trade with real class.

PITTSBURGH – It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow, but in his first season as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kyle Dubas had to make the tough decision to trade star forward Jake Guentzel. Dubas was given the near-impossible task of trading away a fan favorite, but it wasn’t the first time he’s had to pull such a move.

In the most recent episode of the GM Show hosted by Josh Getzoff, Dubas mentioned a hard trade during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs was a learning experience. On the opening day of free agency in 2019, Dubas dealt Nazem Kadri from the Maple Leafs to the Colorado Avalanche.

“We had moved Nazem Kadri to Colorado,” Dubas said. “I called Naz and told him. I think he just wished it was more personal… I always said to myself, if I got in that situation again and it was available, I would want to do it in person.”

This time around, Dubas made sure to soften the blow and make things more personal. Dubas discussed going to Guentzel’s house to break the news to him.

“Once we'd had the trade completed and agreed to, I called Jake to make sure he wasn’t already on his way down to the game,” Dubas said. “I said, ‘Just stay there,’ and I just got in the car and drove to his house to tell him in person.”

Dubas hasn’t been in Pittsburgh long, but he understands the kind of respect a player like Guentzel deserves. Especially in this situation, Dubas knows that Guentzel means so much to many around the organization and the city.

“I haven't been here with Jake that long, but I just feel that a player who's done so much for the organization, the community,” Dubas said. “If you can deliver it in person face to face, it's never easy, but I think it's deserved.”

Guentzel recently debuted with the Hurricanes as they were shutout 1-0 by the New York Rangers. It wasn’t an easy decision to trade a franchise hero, but Dubas made sure to at least have class and sensitivity with the situation.

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