NHL Insider: Eastern Conference Team To Reach Out To Kyle Dubas

When Kyle Dubas held his now infamous press conference last Monday citing that it was either the Toronto Maple Leafs or bust as he considered whether to return as GM, it seemed to indicate that he wouldn't be open to talking to other teams about taking a job elsewhere this summer. 

But now that the Leafs took the decision out of his hands and "parted ways" with him, could he be re-thinking his position?

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly going to find out.

The Penguins are expected to reach out and ask for permission to speak with Kyle Dubas, per @FriedgeHNIC. 👀 pic.twitter.com/TMckfxsIyi

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2023

Pittsburgh is deep in their search, there's a chance we could know next week. But at the very least now, I think they're going to reach out and ask and guage what his interest is. I don't know what the answer to that question is, but I do think the Penguins are to reach out and get permission to talk to him and see where he is.

Currently, Eric Tulsky, Dan MacKinnon, Steve Greeley, and Jason Karmanos are believed to be finalists for the Penguins GM job, but obviously the potential of Dubas entering the picture could delay a decision and re-set the process.

With his contract expiring, Dubas was interested in returning to the Leafs job, but team president Brendan Shanahan says he had "a change of heart" after watching Dubas' media day in which the coach said the job has exacted a toll on his family and he wasn't 100% sure he wanted to continue. 

And when Dubas' camp came back with a new contract offer to the Leafs later in the week, Shanahan told him they'd decided to move in another direction. 

It remains to be seen if that decision could be to the benefit of the Penguins. 

Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports