Penguins mailbag: It's good to be Kyle Dubas, but it isn't easy

Welcome back to Part 2 of the January mailbag.

May you all be keeping nice and warm.

Thanks again for all of the great questions.

Away we go.

Hey Josh! I understand trading players for picks but if you still want one more Cup run for Sid, where do you stop? I feel like trading Marcus Pettersson and possibly Rickard Rakell for picks that wont be ready for 3-4 years isnt going to help accomplish that.

Where is the line? @Ohiopensfan Chances are, you are correct.

But let me ask you this: Could acquiring a couple of the available players out there turn the current Penguins into Stanley Cup contenders? I dont think so.

Dubas wants to build a powerhouse, a team that will be great year in and year out, whether Crosby is still in Pittsburgh or not.

This is likely the right call.

Along the way, will it rob the Big Three of a chance to play in the postseason one final time together? It very well may, and frankly, that stinks.

Their last time on the ice together in the playoffs shouldnt have been in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, where they had to skate off the ice following an overtime loss in a series that was theirs if not for a certain Jacob Trouba hit.

Advertisement Still, if youre Dubas, your loyalty has to be to the franchise and fans more than to those three guys.

Easier said than done, but thats the way it is.

Also, I think Dubas and the Penguins are hoping that Crosby is still playing at a high level and eager to keep playing when his new contract expires.

What if hes still playing high-level hockey at that point? And by then, the Penguins have surrounded him with young, inexpensive talent and have the money available to make splashes in free agency? Thats how Crosby gets his happy ending.

Adding a player here and there to this roster isnt going to do the trick.

Defense, goaltending ...

name an issue and weve got it.

If you were GM, what is the first issue youd attack and what would you do? @IamSCORE_cellyz Id probably ask Kris Letang or Evgeni Malkin if theyd be willing to play somewhere else.

If they say no, fine.

But Id ask.

Sid is different.

He stays.

Id probably keep Bryan Rust , too, given how good he still is and considering the leader he has become.

They have serious talent on the blue line in their system now.

And serious goaltending talent.

Thats a start.

They dont have much at forward, so in terms of adding organizational talent, Id be looking long and hard at forwards when the draft rolls around in June.

How much is Dubas hamstrung by Fenway Group/Sullivan and the core players interfering in the decisions he wants to make? He needs to be given complete control and not worry about whose feelings get hurt.

The Jake trade has been a home run.

Not popular with Mike and the core though.

@terrybutle96208 I truly dont think anyone is interfering with Dubas.

Sure, the Big Three and coach Mike Sullivan want to win, and they want to win right now.

Wouldnt it be strange if anything else were the case? But they arent interfering, to the best of my knowledge.

I suspect Dubas himself, when he took over the job in particular, wanted to keep them happy and sign some veterans to help them win.

Thats understandable.

It must be a hell of a thing to look Crosby in the eye and say: Were going to rebuild and trade your linemates.

Sorry.

Advertisement So, I get it.

Dubas probably caved a bit in the summer of 2023 to keep the big guys happy.

But thats human nature.

From everything Ive been told, Dubas is selling at the deadline.

And likely this summer.

And hes doing it no matter who dislikes it.

Hi Josh, seems like a tough time for Pittsburgh sports in general.

Which of the big three teams do you feel most optimistic about over the next 2-4 years? @Wizard1Lord Yeah, depressing times, huh? Id probably feel best about the Penguins, to be honest.

I think Dubas knows what hes doing.

I think Crosby will help a group of young players figure it out more quickly than any other captain would.

It doesnt take long to rebuild in the NHL if you do it properly.

The key is to draft wisely and avoid completely stripping your team bare.

Why would I have faith in Bob Nutting spending money on the Pirates? And why do we think the Steelers are going to become a contender in the AFC so long as theyre showing up with a knife at a quarterback gunfight weekly against Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, C.J.

Stroud, etc? Is it time for Pittsburgh to push for an NBA franchise to break the city out of its winless futility? @neildbrown Now were talking.

Its worth a shot.

Please explain to me why Rickard Rakell was snubbed from Team Sweden.

Kevin Stenlund instead? FR? @BaronBoy11 My children recently informed me that FR means for real so I am following along.

I have to assume its based on his very disappointing 2023-24 season.

There is no other logical reason.

Hes been spectacular this season.

Why are so many people in the media wishing to trade Rakell? Hes one of the most entertaining players on this team the past few years.

If theyre going to lose, at least be entertained for 25 percent of the game.

@Jjjk9310 Im not.

Hes a wonderful gentleman to chat with and, as you noted, hes quite a player.

Hes one of the few big names on this team that doesnt have a full no-movement clause.

Thats all it is.

Advertisement Do you think Rusty gets moved to a contender? I know hes a good soldier, but he deserves to chase another Cup somewhere and would bring serious value.

@JMccarthyism Anything is possible, but Id be surprised.

He has a full no-movement clause until July 1.

I cant imagine him being OK with a deal.

His family loves it here, and he recently purchased Jake Guentzel s house.

Hes playing on a line with Sid.

He bleeds black and gold.

He doesnt want to go anywhere.

It wouldnt shock me if he spends his entire career with the Penguins.

Hes a lifer and, as you noted, quite a soldier indeed.

They would get a big haul for him, yes.

But my sense is he stays for a long time Why have the Penguins not hosted an NHL All-Star game since 1990? Will we get one before Sid retires? @88LMar The NHL (and the Penguins) deem the Winter Classic and outdoor games in general as more of an honor and as more profitable.

So, thats your answer.

I guarantee you well see the Penguins in another outdoor game before Sid retires, probably a Winter Classic.

Sid vs.

Ovi one more time? Or Sid vs.

McDavid? Why not? It would be fun and it will happen.

I could see the Penguins hosting an All-Star Game although, remember, there isnt one next season because of the Olympics .

An outdoor game in the next year or two seems more likely.

Have you always wanted to focus on hockey or did you originally want to write about another sport/topic when you first began writing? @ma77hew_gray Baseball is actually my favorite sport and my favorite sport to write about.

But the Tribune-Review gave me an opportunity to cover the Penguins in 2009, and its been my career ever since.

I love football but prefer to devote my energy toward the Steelers strictly on a fandom level.

Ha.

And covering MLB is a nauseating experience with 12-hour workdays, dealing with the Nutting circus and so much more.

Advertisement So Im staying here.

And I do love hockey.

Its been a blessing.

I know this isnt Penguins related ...

but...

Id love to hear your thoughts on why Art 11 is a disgrace to the Rooney name.

@cschmiedebusch Thats a strongly worded statement.

I dont think Art is a bad man, and I dont even know that hes a bad owner.

What I do know is this: The Steelers are so obsessed with the idea of being considered a stable franchise that theyve become unstable.

In my 44 years on this planet Im getting old Ive never seen Pittsburgh this upset with the Steelers.

And for good reason.

They arent well coached and Im pretty sure they arent well managed.

Ultimately, yes, that falls on Art Rooney.

I dont want him to start acting like Jerry Jones.

But some urgency would be appreciated.

Which arenas provide the best snacks and foods for reporters? @KMarker14 How nice of you to ask.

These are the important questions.

The BBQ in Raleigh remains king, though other arenas provide great dinners, including Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Montreal.

Washington and Philly tend to be good for sugary snacks, like Starburst and Skittles.

Washington used to have good donuts, too.

In Pittsburgh, the press box food guy, Steve, has been coming on strong with soft pretzels this season.

Steve is a champion.

Oh, and the chicken fingers in the Florida press box are top-notch.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

A big couple of weeks of coverage are on the way.

Ill be in California, Seattle and Utah to provide coverage on one of the longest road trips in Penguins history.

And the March 7 trade deadline is right around the corner.

Stay tuned.

(Photo of Kyle Dubas: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.