The Canadian hockey fraternity is abuzz with the expectation that Kyle Dubas, the current Pittsburgh Penguins president and general manager, is on the brink of being appointed as the General Manager for Team Canada at the forthcoming IIHF World Hockey Championship. The championship is scheduled to take place in Sweden and Denmark in May, according to Chris Johnston, the trusted hockey insider for TSN.
Kyle Dubas, renowned in the hockey world, has an impressive track record that has led him to this point. Between 2018 and 2023, he was the GM for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a tenure marked by the team consistently qualifying for the playoffs every season. Despite this consistent performance, the team only clinched one playoff series while he was at the helm.
Johnston, while speaking on the program Insider Trading, suggested that although the appointment is not yet official, Dubas is the likely choice for the role. “It’s not confirmed at this time, but it sounds like Kyle Dubas will be Canada’s GM for that event,” Johnston stated. Dubas has a considerable history with Team Canada; he served in an executive role at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, where he was appointed director of player personnel. This, coupled with his involvement with the Olympic team as an assistant GM, positions him well for a promotion.
Canada has a legendary reputation at the World Hockey Championship, leading the pack with a record 28 gold medals. However, the team is on a mission to recover from a less-than-stellar fourth-place finish in the previous tournament. With the puck set to drop on May 9, the defending champions are the Czech squad.
The anticipation of Dubas’ appointment adds an additional layer of excitement to the upcoming World Championship. His history of leadership and team management could be the boost Canada needs to reclaim their dominant position in global hockey. As the hockey world awaits an official announcement, all eyes are fixed on Dubas for what could be his next significant career move.