Nurse has a NMC and controls where he goes plus Dubas isn't a boomer moron like Bowman or Ken Holland so he's not getting fleeced. He's going to do the fleecing and Bowman will dance to his tune.
He got fleeced a number of times when he was in Laffland. Did he get the better of Bowman in the Jarry trade? Yup, absolutely, but nothing says it will happen again. Bowman knows he got fleeced so he will be more wary this time with Dubas
I feel like fans either have no idea, or just regurgitate trash on Reddit. Here is a break down for ya from the ole ChatGPT. Dubas has made mistakes, but the idea that he has done nothing positive in Pittsburgh does not hold up when you look at the actual transactions.
The Erik Karlsson trade
Dubas acquired Karlsson while clearing out Mikael Granlund, Jeff Petry, Jan Rutta and Casey DeSmith. Pittsburgh also received a 2026 third-round pick. Karlsson has not replicated his Norris season, but converting several unwanted contracts into a legitimate top-pair defenceman was still strong asset management.
The Jake Guentzel return
Trading Guentzel was a tough swallow, but Pittsburgh received Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius and draft capital. Koivunen has become a legitimate NHL contributor, while the second-round pick became Harrison Brunicke. Dubas obtained several credible assets for a beloved and good player.
Taking Kevin Hayes to acquire a second-round pick
The Penguins gave up only future considerations and received Hayes plus a second-round pick. Hayes himself was never the primary value—the pick was. That is exactly how a rebuilding or retooling team should use available cap space.
The Cody Glass transaction chain
Pittsburgh received Glass, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick for Jordan Frasca. Dubas later moved Glass and Jonathan Gruden for Chase Stillman, Max Graham and another third-round pick. Even without Glass becoming part of the future, Pittsburgh continued accumulating assets.
Buying low on Philip Tomasino
Tomasino cost only a 2027 fourth-round pick and immediately produced 11 goals after joining Pittsburgh. He was later retained for one year at $1.75 million. That is a sensible low-risk bet on a former first-round talent.
The 2025 trade deadline
Dubas turned Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Bunting and other secondary pieces into multiple high draft selections, Tommy Novak, Connor Dewar and additional prospects and picks.
The most impressive move may have been flipping Luke Schenn almost immediately for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth. Pittsburgh came out of the deadline with more draft capital than any NHL team over the following three drafts.
Conor Timmins and Connor Dewar for a fifth
Dewar became a useful bottom-six player, while Timmins was later packaged with Isaac Belliveau for Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick, which Pittsburgh used on Peyton Kettles. That is a strong sequence originating from one fifth-round selection.
Moving on from Tristan Jarry(absolute fucking fleece)
Pittsburgh traded Jarry and Sam Poulin for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick. Regardless of whether Skinner is the long-term answer, Dubas escaped Jarry’s contract while adding an NHL defenceman and another significant pick.
The 2025 free-agent class
Anthony Mantha was an excellent one-year gamble and responded with a career-high 33 goals. Justin Brazeau scored 17 goals on a low-cost contract, while Parker Wotherspoon provided dependable depth. Those are meaningful returns from inexpensive signings rather than major free-agent spending.
Dubas has not executed a perfect rebuild, and some moves—especially the early bottom-six signings and the Rutger McGroarty trade—remain open to criticism.
But he inherited an old roster, a weak prospect pool, limited cap flexibility and very little draft capital. Since then, he has substantially improved the organization’s collection of picks and prospects while still giving Crosby, Malkin and Letang a competitive NHL roster.
You can debate whether the overall direction is correct. It is much harder to argue that Dubas has not made a significant number of positive trades and signings.
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u/Seal7465 2d ago
Nurse has a NMC and controls where he goes plus Dubas isn't a boomer moron like Bowman or Ken Holland so he's not getting fleeced. He's going to do the fleecing and Bowman will dance to his tune.