Kyle Dubas steals top executive from Toronto Maple Leafs
Moments ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that their long-time head scout Wes Clark would be departing the team. Just a minute after, he was hired by Kyle Dubas and the Penguins.
Wes Clark was hired by the Maple Leafs in 2018, and has been credited for more than a few savvy draft picks in recent years, including Matthew Knies, Sean Durzi, Nick Robertson, Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and many more.
Clark will now take his scouting talents to a general manager that he seemingly has loyalty to, and begin their work together in Pittsburgh. It should be a crucial hire for the Penguins, as they're expected to further drift out of a playoff spot and begin truly rebuilding their roster for the post-Crosby era.
This hire is entirely within Dubas' MO as a manager - he loves his guys, and will hire his guys. Throughout his time in Toronto Dubas strongly believed that his group of people would be the team to deliver a championship, and it looks like he's taking that belief with him to Pittsburgh too. His affinity for acquiring �his guys' even extended to repeatedly drafting and acquiring former Sault St. Marie Greyhounds players, his former junior team.
Plenty of Leafs fans and media are already expressing that the team is gutted to see Wes Clark go - he was one of the most important figures of the staff.
The Penguins and Dubas are expected to announce a contract extension for Sidney Crosby in the coming days, and also make a push with some bold moves to actually make the playoffs in the final years of his career. We'll see if Dubas is up to the task, but after missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the future isn't looking bright in Pittsburgh.
Source: Pittsburgh Penguins
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