The Pittsburgh Penguins officially have the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, but should they be looking to trade it with under two months until the draft? After a few weeks of discussions and interviews with numerous candidates for front office jobs with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kyle Dubas might be cashing in as the new favorite. The Penguins were well into their search when it was reported that they will seek permission to speak with Dubas and possibly give him an interview. Just when everyone thought Dubas took himself out of the running for any other job but general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’s right back in the spotlight. There were reports that the Penguins were through their second round of interviews and names were listed as possible candidate, but Dubas returning to the running put everything on pause. Dubas is the type of front office executive that you put your work on pause for, quick frankly he’s one of the best general managers in the NHL and the Penguins should have him at the top of their list regardless of where they are in the search. A lot of people will point to Dubas’ lack of postseason success and say he isn’t fit for the Penguins; to that you must ask, is Dubas the one on the ice failing year after year? Sure, it’s the team that Dubas constructed, but the Maple Leafs entered each season as a highly talented, Stanley Cup caliber team. As most seasons went on, Dubas made the Maple Leafs a fiercer competitor, but things never went their way. Dubas is the perfect candidate for the Penguins’ front office on multiple levels; he can build an outstanding team with little salary cap space, he is young and hungry to build a winner, and he knows what it takes to keep a core together. [https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/dubas-keeping-nylander-marner-matthews-can-will/] During his time with the Maple Leafs, Dubas was tasked with finding ways to sign Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander to high-priced contracts. Not only did Dubas keep those three in Toronto, he gave Morgan Rielly an extension and signed John Tavares as a free agent. In Pittsburgh, the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang is already in place, all Dubas would need to do is fill in the empty spaces with superior talent that the old regime couldn’t do. Dubas also fits the mold of what Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is looking for in the Penguins’ new front office. FSG wants a young, smart, and analytically driven mind upstairs, and Dubas checks all of those boxes. If Dubas joins the Penguins, he will likely be given free reign bring more analytics to the Penguins in multiple different areas. Not only can Dubas take over in Pittsburgh, he might be given a bigger role than he had in Toronto. The Penguins have the space to make Dubas both the president of hockey operations and general manager if they please. A power struggle in Toronto might be what pushed Dubas out the door, but there wouldn’t be that kind of problem in Pittsburgh. FSG could give Dubas the keys to the castle and build the team and rest of the front office however he sees fit. If Dubas wants the job in Pittsburgh, it’s likely all his. Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more! The Penguins Must Restock Their Depth at Right Wing [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/podcasts/pittsburgh-penguins-must-restock-depth-right-wing] Penguins Announce Renovations Underway at PPG Paints Arena [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-renovations-underway-ppg-paints-arena] Penguins Making a Pitch for Kyle Dubas [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-making-pitch-kyle-dubas] Jaromir Jagr Visits PPG Paints Arena, Penguins' Locker Room [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/jaromir-jagr-ppg-paints-pittsburgh-penguins-locker-room] Players the Penguins Could Target with First-Round Pick [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/players-pittsburgh-penguins-target-first-round-pick] * undefined * undefined
