Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Penguins are setting their sights on a new chapter for the 2024-25 season, aiming to move past recent disappointments. Kyle Dubas, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, outlined his vision for the team during a media session on October 7.

Dubas emphasized three core principles: maintaining a competitive spirit every night, developing players and staff at an elite level, and controlling emotions in games. "If we can (do that), I think we’ll have an extremely successful season, and we’ll meet all the goals that we’ve set for ourselves this year," Dubas stated.

Throughout the offseason and into Training Camp presented by UPMC, internal discussions focused on upholding high standards set by key players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust. Dubas believes these standards combined with opportunities will lead to "an exciting and fun year" for both players and fans.

Dubas described his goal as building a team that reflects Pittsburgh's character: "very simply, equal parts grit and equal parts innovation." He acknowledged locals might have deeper insights but sees these traits as central to representing the city through hockey.

This summer's strategy involved short-term contracts for players needing greater opportunities or coming off challenging seasons. The approach also aimed to give younger prospects a chance to compete for roster spots. Dubas was "extremely encouraged" by performances from prospects like Rutger McGroarty and Harrison Brunicke.

The Penguins aim to maximize contributions from everyone involved with the team—players, coaches, and staff—to transition into a new era of championship hockey in Pittsburgh. Despite not being favored externally due to missing playoffs in recent years, Dubas stressed understanding within the organization about the challenges ahead.

"We aren’t favored by anybody to accomplish anything... We’ve missed the playoffs the last two seasons here," he noted. However, he expressed determination: "What we’re going to try to accomplish this season... is to be playing very meaningful hockey in March, April and beyond."

###