Penguins Update: What Should Dubas Do Now?
The other day, a member of Wright’s Gym asked me what I’d do at the trade deadline. A million dollar (or more) question if there ever was one.
I mentioned in a recap last week that I really like our team, and I do. Whether it was assembled accidentally on purpose by POHO/GM Kyle Dubas or not, the end result is the same. He’s constructed a club that pretty much has all the elements you need: size, speed, spirit and skill.
In a word, balanced.
Although not an overly physical team by fighting/hitting standards, we’re “hockey tough.” Virtually everyone on the roster, including the stars, sticks his nose in and competes. Our gritty fourth line of Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte, a prime example.
A far cry from the last few seasons of the Mike Sullivan era, when the Pens were about as bland and Milquetoast-ish as it gets. In fact, now that Dubas isn’t trying to appease Sully in terms of personnel choices, I think his true colors are emerging. Hence, he’s adding sizeable guys who can play like Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha and scrappers like Dewar and Connor Clifton.