While absorbing a massive Penguins news conference Thursday at PPG Paints Arena — an event so prestigious they held it in the Lexus Club, which is kind of like when your parents would deck out the fancy china when important people were coming over for dinner — it was impossible to take your eyes off Kyle Dubas.
The Penguins’ new president of hockey operations is one of hockey’s most famous people. He’s smart, poised and charismatic. He handled himself so well, the whole room was buzzing. The guy is a star.
He’s impressive.
He knocked it out of the park.
What a hire.
Yup. I overheard all of those comments in the aftermath, and they’re all accurate.
For just a moment, I ignored Dubas and looked around.
GO DEEPER
Gentille: The Penguins’ big bet on Kyle Dubas
Dave Beeston, the team’s alternate governor, was to Dubas’ right. He didn’t look nervous as he did in April when he spoke about the organization’s direction hours after dispatching Ron Hextall, Brian Burke and Chris Pryor. He looked confident, like an executive who worked countless hours over the past seven weeks to make sure the Penguins were in good hands.
To Dubas’ left was Fenway Sports Group chairman Tom Werner, who spoke gently but confidently about his admiration for the Penguins’ rich history and his desire to see the good times roll on. It didn’t feel like corporate speak or going through the motions. It felt like he meant every word.
About 40 feet away from the podium, standing just inside of the doorway, was a smiling John Henry. That John Henry.
All of Fenway Sports Group’s biggest names were on hand, which is important in and of itself. I wrote in February that I believe the ownership group needed to be more transparent with Pittsburgh about the organization’s direction.
Well, after what we witnessed on Thursday, I can’t say it anymore. They made their move, and it was a beauty.
The first 18 months of Fenway’s ownership weren’t ideal. The Penguins’ attendance methodically dropped. Their 16-year playoff streak ended. The team was managed poorly the past season, and they did nothing about it. Mario Lemieux became more distant from the organization.
It was reasonable for Pittsburgh to question Fenway’s ownership. But FSG blasted one well over the Green Monster on Thursday.
It took a while to land Dubas, and fans were starting to get antsy. But really, it didn’t matter how long the search took or how bumpy it was, so long as they got their man.
Did they ever?
It’s funny how one right decision can transform everything. There are more decisions to be made, and the Penguins badly needed someone running the show.
GO DEEPER
A look at Kyle Dubas’ best and worst moves with the Maple Leafs
For the past 48 days, they had no general manager. No president of hockey operations. The sense around the hockey world was that the Penguins lacked direction — a franchise potentially on a serious decline.
Along came Dubas. Suddenly, the Penguins feel very relevant. They didn’t just fill a void. They recruited and landed the most desired person on the market.
Give Fenway credit. Hours after the hire, the Penguins’ ownership group made more waves. Following Dubas’ media availability, the Penguins cut ties with three employees Hextall had hired. Alec Schall (director of hockey operations and salary cap management), Kerry Huffman (director of pro scouting) and Teena Murray (senior VP, integrated performance) were all fired, said team sources, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. All had at least one more year on their contracts.
Finally, this group is starting to assert itself.
Much has been made about the reality that FSG brass doesn’t come from a hockey background. They’re primarily baseball people, and yes, they have interests in many other sports. But they had never been involved in hockey.
The most intelligent of powerful people always have the ability to delegate. Nobody knows everything, so when in doubt, identify people who are experts in certain crafts and put them to work.
That’s exactly what’s happening with FSG and Dubas.
As you’ve heard, Dubas never won a championship in Toronto and only won one series along the way. But established people in the hockey world will tell you Dubas is a star. A genius. A polished executive who hasn’t even entered his prime.
The analytics community loves him. “Hockey men” do, too. Jim Rutherford, now in Vancouver but always connected with the biggest names in Pittsburgh, has always loved Dubas. He thinks he’s brilliant.
So, sure, it was the right move to hire him. Anyone who debates that is simply looking for a debate.
That doesn’t mean the hire was simple. Ownership still had to sell Dubas on a highly difficult job, given the mess that the previous administration made.
GO DEEPER
Kyle Dubas, Brad Treliving and winners and losers on the NHL executive carousel
Some other quick points:
• We don’t know Dubas’ financial compensation.
Make no mistake, he’s fabulously wealthy. Dubas was in a position to essentially name his job over the next year or two. That’s how coveted he is. Landing him required a significant financial commitment. FSG is wealthy, sure. Well, so is Bob Nutting. Some owners are willing to go above and beyond financially. FSG is one of those ownership groups.
• It’s important for ownership groups and the people in management to be on the same page.
Dubas is smart. He’s young. He’s analytical, to a point. This is directly out of the FSG playbook. He’s the kind of thinker the Penguins’ owners believe in. He became available, and they immediately pursued him. It’s good business sense.
• FSG is stable. They’ve made it known that they’re in this for the long haul.
Rumors have popped up that Dubas might have been interested in working for the Ottawa Senators, his favorite boyhood team. The Senators, however, are as stable as the weather in March. The Penguins have been stable for a while now, and FSG’s presence only makes them feel like a safer destination.
• FSG still had to close the deal, and not just financially. It’s largely about likability.
Dubas said he visited with FSG executives more than a week ago. He got to know them. Whatever they said to Dubas was the right thing.
It’s not FSG’s fault the Penguins are old, nor is it their fault that an incompetent management group was in charge when they purchased the Penguins. They inherited these realities.
But it is FSG’s responsibility to give the Penguins every available platform to jump beyond their current selves. A brilliant front office mind can produce that magic. Dubas is the guy, and FSG got him.
The Penguins feel a little more relevant today. Dubas brings hope and, without hope, a fan base and the team it supports has nothing.
FSG delivered that hope and deserves a considerable amount of praise.
— The Athletic’s Rob Rossi contributed to this report.
(Photo of Kyle Dubas courtesy of the Penguins)
Iowa, Stanford stars are leading top-10 teams this season.The 2024 WNBA Draft is just six weeks away. The three-round draft on April 15 will feature some of the
Last year, the Vikings chose running back Alexander Mattison over Dalvin Cook. This year, they’re moving on from Mattison
PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) -PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) - WDAM 7 will be carrying a slate of sports programming on NBC and ABC this weekend.Below is a list of WDAM 7 s
The Chiefs are trying to hold onto defensive tackle Chris Jones and a report Thursday cast those efforts in a positive ligh