Penguins hire Dubas as president of hockey operations

The 37-year-old will oversee all aspects of the Penguins hockey operations department including establishing the strategic vision and philosophy for the franchise.

“On behalf of my family, we are thrilled to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and all of the incredible people across Fenway Sports Group,” Dubas said. “I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity that lies ahead of me. The ownership group, FSG leadership and the Penguins staff on the ground in Pittsburgh have been absolutely outstanding. Everyone has demonstrated a clear commitment to building a best-in-class hockey operation.”

Dubas replaces Brian Burke, who was fired as Penguins president along with general manager Ron Hextall on April 14. In their second full seasons with the team, the Penguins went 40-31-11 and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons, which was the longest streak in the NHL.

Dubas, who was GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons, was told on May 19 that he would not be returning next season. His contract will expire on June 30.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kyle to the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Fenway Sports Group principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner said in a statement. “Throughout his career, Kyle has proven himself as a forward-thinking hockey mind and embodies all of the qualities — integrity, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to building a winning culture — that we value in a leader at the Penguins and within Fenway Sports Group. We have done exhaustive work narrowing down candidates throughout this process, but it did not take long to be impressed by Kyle, the reputation he’s cultivated for himself in and around the National Hockey League, and his vision for the organization on and off the ice. His passion for the sport and ability to foster collaborative relationships with his staff, coaches and players is the type of leadership style that will undoubtedly resonate with the front office and set us on a new path for success in the near-term with our current championship-caliber core and beyond with a commitment to sustainable, long-term success.”

Dubas was promoted to Maple Leafs GM on May 11, 2018, taking over for Lou Lamoriello, after joining Toronto on July 22, 2014, as an assistant GM. He was 221-109-42 as Toronto GM, a position he assumed at 32 years old.

At locker cleanout day, on May 15, three days after Toronto was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Florida Panthers in five games in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Second Round, Dubas said he intended to speak with his family prior to deciding whether he wanted to return as GM.

“My family is a hugely important part of what I do, so for me to commit to anything without having a fuller understanding of what this year took on them is probably unfair for me to answer where I am at,” Dubas said. “We haven’t been able to have those full discussions yet, but it was very hard, the year on them, and thus it’s tough for me.”

Dubas had been linked to other NHL jobs in recent weeks but took himself out of the running May 15 for any job except for remaining with the Maple Leafs.

“What I would say is I definitely don’t have it in me to go anywhere else, so it will either be here (in Toronto) or it will be taking time to recalibrate and reflect on the seasons here,” Dubas said. “But you won’t see me next week pop up elsewhere. I can’t put [my family] through that after this year.”