Penguins Analysis: Translating Kyle Dubas’s Presser & Little Nuggets (+)

He’s direct and well-spoken. Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas held his first press conference of the NHL season. With questions rising about the status of the team’s coaching staff and losses mounting, Dubas shouldered a bit of the blame, challenged the defensemen to claim a spot, but also threatened to go shopping if various players didn’t seize their moment.

Dubas has a gentile way of delivering big news and stern challenges while minimizing the potentially large impact.

Simple honesty can have that effect.

In Dubas’s wide-ranging presser, he was able to both advocate for staying the course and admit that no one cares if the Penguins have good underlying stats if they lose, and no one cares if the Penguins have bad stats as long as they win.

A few wins surely wouldn’t hurt the Penguins, who are three points from the basement of the Eastern Conference but six points out of a playoff spot.

While Dubas clarified some recent comments, he also threatened changes should a few of his players not seize the opportunity.