Sidney Crosby halts GM Kyle Dubas’ plans!

In Pittsburgh, it hasn’t been a smooth start for Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Despite a 4-2 win over the visting Arizona Coyotes last night, the Penguins are second last in the Metropolitan division right now. When Dubas provided an update on what’s to come for the Penguins, the GM raised some eyebrows with his comments and insider Pierre LeBrun dug a little deeper.

When Dubas said he would be making a decision on where the team was at the All-Star break, he did consider the core group and the whole history and legacy of the team. However, even if Dubas would want to come in with a full rebuild if the Pens cannot catch up in the standings as we get closer to the March 8 trade deadline, LeBrun reminds everyone in his latest column on the Athletic how there is a certain captain Sidney Crosby that remains in charge:

“Most pertinent, of course, is the fact that Sidney Crosby, 36, has one more year on his deal after this season. That’s easily the most important target date that could swing Dubas’ plan.

"Of course, Crosby could extend with the Penguins, the only team he’s ever indicated he wants to play for. But it’s still a window in time when perhaps Dubas will feel he should seriously transform the roster.”

The hope this summer, especially when the Penguins brought on Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, was that the core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang could get another shot at a championship before significant changes are made in Pittsburgh in order to focus on the future.

So far, the plan has not come to fruiton, though Dubas sounds willing to wait a bit more for the team to turn around. If the Edmonton Oilers manage to do it, could we see the same thing in Pittsburgh? Perhaps it means the end of the road for head coach Mike Sullivan though for now, he may have until the All-Star Break to right this ship.

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