Hextall & Burke have been fired

[Three Stars]

I dunno. In the non-GM category, both Hossa and Jagr were deep in the doghouse after they either failed to stay and/or failed to return. At least with Dubas there are very reasonable alternatives still out there.

[dark_forces]

If Dubas isn't the next GM, does he then qualify for most hated non-GM's in Penguins history?

'Dude shunned us; we could have been a contender, but no, he left us high and dry.'

Depending on the next GM is and how good they do and where Dubas goes and how well he does. He could be relegated to "thank God we didn't get Dubas" status.

I recall, not too distantly, when everybody wanted Mike Babcock to coach their team. He was viewed as the gold standard of coaches. I no longer even hear his name brought up when talk of coaching vacancies arise.

[murphydump55]

If Dubas isn't the next GM, does he then qualify for most hated non-GM's in Penguins history?

'Dude shunned us; we could have been a contender, but no, he left us high and dry.'

;-)

Depending on the next GM is and how good they do and where Dubas goes and how well he does. He could be relegated to "thank God we didn't get Dubas" status.

I recall, not too distantly, when everybody wanted Mike Babcock to coach their team. He was viewed as the gold standard of coaches. I no longer even hear his name brought up when talk of coaching vacancies arise.

Someone brought him up on this board as wanting him.

What an overrated coach. People think Sully overrated, Babcock isn’t far off.

[Antonio]

I really think FSG and Dubas are still negotiating. The only real obstacles that I can think of in negotiations is Sullivan, organizational hierarchy/ power, and staff selections / budget.

If FSG is truly offering Dubas the keys than I don't know how they can insist he keep Sullivan

I think if he were "out" that information would have been leaked by now. The fact that everything is so under wraps tells me they're negotiating/filling out other senior management positions.

I really want to know if keeping Sullivan is an issue for Dubas

I would not be the least but surprised if this is an issue. I could easily see them telling him, Sully is the second coming so you have to pray at a shrine with a gold statue of his likeness in it every morning, but other than that, you get total control!

[Antonio]

God what a joke this team has become.

Serious question: why do you follow them then? You hate the roster. Hate the coach, hate the processes... why be a fan.

I can't imagine being this miserable about a sports team that I consider myself a "fan" of.

Sorry, didn't know you loved the roster, loved the coaching staff, loved the results, loved the management, loved the ownership. Awesome for you that you don't dislike any aspect of the team in it's current state. Guess I'm wrong as a fan because I don't see everything exactly like you. Apologies. Please tell me how to be a fan so I can get your august and essential approval.

The team seems to be in a total state of disarray and dysfunction from the top down, in a way it wasn't for many years. This team used to be the gold standard in how it was staffed and managed I believe and we've lost that. Why is it that every judgmental "fan" is so preoccupied with telling other people that they spend too much energy not "fanning" how THEY approve of, yet seem blissfully ignorant to the hypocrisy behind spending so much energy criticizing and lecturing other people? Sorry, I really wish I could be ecstatic about the state of the franchise. My mistake apparently. I guess the only correct way to be a fan is to be happy about everything even if it objectively isn't great. Ignore reality. Got it. This is the way.

[Daniel]

If Dubas isn't the next GM, does he then qualify for most hated non-GM's in Penguins history?

'Dude shunned us; we could have been a contender, but no, he left us high and dry.'

Depending on the next GM is and how good they do and where Dubas goes and how well he does. He could be relegated to "thank God we didn't get Dubas" status.

I recall, not too distantly, when everybody wanted Mike Babcock to coach their team. He was viewed as the gold standard of coaches. I no longer even hear his name brought up when talk of coaching vacancies arise.

In all fairness though, his contract is just expiring (eight-year contract expires on June 30, 2023). Why give up $5,875,000 to coach for less money. Found this article that he's retired. now that the contract is over, who knows. I don't think he's a horrible coach but just not worth that dumb contract the Maple Leafs gave him.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-m ... le%20Leafs.

[FLPensFan]

Could be nothing, but Seattle just extended Ron Francis for 3 years. Anyone there (Botteril, Mandrycky) hoping to eventually assume a GM role there could potentially look to move elsewhere.

[KG]

Watch us lose out on Dubas because FSG wouldn't give him full autonomy to bring in his own coaching staff...

If you're looking to make a big splash like Dubas then you have to give him the keys to the car. Not just let him drive on side streets.

[FLPensFan]

Watch us lose out on Dubas because FSG wouldn't give him full autonomy to bring in his own coaching staff...

If you're looking to make a big splash like Dubas then you have to give him the keys to the car. Not just let him drive on side streets.

Never say never, but it shouldn't be an issue. This was Acklin's quote on Sullivan at the Hextall firing presser:

“We think Mike Sullivan is one of the best coaches in the NHL. He was extended last season. Once we bring in a new hockey operations leader, he or she will be responsible for evaluating the coaching staff, but we think Mike and his whole staff is terrific.”

They think Sullivan is great, but if someone else comes in and doesn't share the opinion, sounds like they are opening to going a different direction.

[Puck-Lurker]

Watch us lose out on Dubas because FSG wouldn't give him full autonomy to bring in his own coaching staff...

If you're looking to make a big splash like Dubas then you have to give him the keys to the car. Not just let him drive on side streets.

I wonder if FSG has a clear plan of what they want out of the next five years of Penguins hockey.

Lots of variables and lots of ways they can go about it. I assumed they were committed to three more years (two now) with the old core when they resigned Geno and Tanger. The timeline that, I will assume, FLPF posted a while back, casts some serious doubt on that. Might be that FSG hasn't a clue what they're doing, or who's driving this hockey club.

Suppose there is a clear plan. Next season, retool the supporting cast, replace the goaltender, get everyone healthy and ready to go. Season after, start replacing more pieces with cheaper options, Guentzel is gone, the defence doesn't look like anything you recognise apart from Tanger. Third year, rebuilding is on, Geno is probably gone by now and draft picks are no longer handed out like 15% discount coupons.

You give that as an outline to a GM and hand them the reigns with autonomy, fine! That will work!

Now if the plan is made up as we go along, that absolutely doesn't work

[Antonio]

Maybe instead of asking Hextall to put his plan for the future to paper, someone should have asked FSG to put THEIR plan to paper? Maybe you're on to something.

[Maestro]

It is an issue of autonomy and we all know how it will end. Dubas ain't coming.

[Antonio]

It is an issue of autonomy and we all know how it will end. Dubas ain't coming.

Have to agree with this. Maybe we'll be surprised but I expect it's going to be some candidate none of us really expect or want. Guess we'll see... eventually.

[thehockeyguru]

Molinari says FSG has given Dubas enough time....

If Dubas is, in fact, playing the Penguins against Ottawa to get the most favorable deal possible, that’s fine, but so is one of those parties — or both of them — telling the candidate that the time to make a decision has arrived.

The Pittsburgh Penguins should give Dubas a deadline — one in the very near future, at that — to let them know if he’s going to sign on with them.

If he’s not, they should select one of the assistant GMs lined up behind him — that list appears to include Mathieu Darche (Tampa Bay), Steve Greeley (Dallas) and Jason Botterill (Seattle) and get started on a hyper-critical offseason.

[thehockeyguru]

MM saying something similar....


Mark Madden
@MarkMaddenX
·
1h
If Dubas doesn’t say yes by tomorrow, Pens gotta move on.

[ejd43]

I thought MM had the inside track on Dubas and he was just putting the final touches on everything and putting a list of hire’s together?

[thehockeyguru]

I thought MM had the inside track on Dubas and he was just putting the final touches on everything and putting a list of hire’s together?

I think he took an educated guess and wanted to be first to report it. That being said I can't recall the last time he broke any Pens news of value

[ejd43]

I thought MM had the inside track on Dubas and he was just putting the final touches on everything and putting a list of hire’s together?

I think he took an educated guess and wanted to be first to report it. That being said I can't recall the last time he broke any Pens news of value

It’s just so odd that even the national media guys have no clue either.

[Tico Rick]

Mikey seems to think that some teams who already have GMs are looking for creative ways to hire Dubas. If so, the Pens definitely have to give him a deadline.

[Maestro]

It could be he was putting a list of hires together and things went sideways. Close isn't over the line.

And when that happened others assumed it was dead
More like life support. (A Sheldon Keefe for Sully swap anyone?)

[ville5]

Alex Daugherty
@AlexDaugherty1
·
Follow
Barry Trotz, on the upcoming draft, says he told his scouts to “take some swings, take some high end swings on some guys”

Then adds: “I can find you 3rd line, 4th line guys, no problem. Go get me some guys that get people out of their seats.”

Can we just double no-necks pay and hire him?

[BigMcK]

When this GM search madness ends, and FSG (puke) Corporation announcement of the Dude named GM is over, do they, FSG, get to announce it to Board Members first, then media?

For all that Howard Baldwin brought/took from the Penguins, he was the face of ownership. A name. A face.

[KG]

The longer this Dubas thing plays out, the more the local media take their shots at FSG “the Boston guys.”

I don’t know how anyone else feels, but I don’t care if the owners are from Timbuktu. As long as they run a strong organization and hockey team.

Comes off as petty and whiny when the media complain the owner isn’t a Pittsburgh guy.

Just my two cents.

[Three Stars]

When this GM search madness ends, and FSG (puke) Corporation announcement of the Dude named GM is over, do they, FSG, get to announce it to Board Members first, then media?

For all that Howard Baldwin brought/took from the Penguins, he was the face of ownership. A name. A face.

Now there’s a low bar. “He almost destroyed the franchise, but at least he we knew he had two eyes and a nose”. I wonder if he tried that line of reasoning in bankruptcy court.

[Daniel]

The longer this Dubas thing plays out, the more the local media take their shots at FSG “the Boston guys.”

I don’t know how anyone else feels, but I don’t care if the owners are from Timbuktu. As long as they run a strong organization and hockey team.

Comes off as petty and whiny when the media complain the owner isn’t a Pittsburgh guy.

Just my two cents.

It's easy to label them as "the Boston guys" when they're a faceless non involved organization that won't even try to create local roots.