Sullivan on same page as Dubas to have Penguins contend for Stanley Cup

Mike Sullivan said he is on board with Kyle Dubas' two-pronged approach to building the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Hired as president of hockey operations on Thursday, Dubas said he plans to supplement the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to immediately compete for the Stanley Cup. Looking ahead, he wants a foundation that can sustain that success.

Sullivan said Crosby, Malkin and Letang still provide his best path to winning a third championship since being hired as Penguins coach on Dec. 12, 2015.

"I've been a strong believer in this core group, as you know," Sullivan said Friday. "For me, they're a group that can still play at an elite level. I think there's plenty of evidence to suggest that when you look at their performances over the last couple of seasons. In my mind, they're the best core I've ever been associated with.

"They've still shown an ability to be able to compete at a high level. In the short run, I think our challenge is to surround them with what we can to field the most competitive team, to give the group an opportunity to compete for Stanley Cups."

However, Sullivan understands life without those three is approaching.

"I think that's what the challenge is when you look at where our organization is at, and in particular, where our core group is at," Sullivan said. "Certainly, the long-term goal as an organization is to try to sustain competitiveness and sustained success. That's going to be one of the challenges moving forward. We're certainly well aware of that. I'm sure we'll have lots of discussions on what that strategy might look like."

Centers Crosby (93 points; 33 goals, 60 assists) and Malkin (83 points; 27 goals, 56 assists) were the Penguins' top two scorers this season. Despite having a stroke Nov. 28, the second of his NHL career, Letang led Pittsburgh defensemen with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 64 games.

Still, the Penguins were 40-31-11, ending a run of 16 straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which was the longest active streak in the NHL.

Crosby, entering his 19th NHL season, will turn 36 on Aug. 7. He has two seasons remaining on a 12-year, $104.4 million contract ($8.7 million average annual value).

Malkin and Letang each re-signed last offseason. Malkin, who will be 37 at the start of next season, agreed to a four-year, $24.4 million contract ($6.1 million AAV) on July 12, five days after Letang, 36, signed a six-year, $36.6 million contract ($6.1 million AAV).

In talks with Dubas, Sullivan said there was a common desire to build around Crosby, Malkin and Letang.

"In particular, just the Penguins and looking at our group and the personnel that we have, how we set our group up for success," Sullivan said. "How do we surround our core with what it needs to have success? I'm sure we'll have a lot more discussions moving forward now that Kyle is officially on board and part of our organization. Those are conversations that I really look forward to."

Dubas, who was general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons before being told May 19 that he would not be returning next season, said Thursday he could bolster Pittsburgh's top-six forward group, adding to Crosby and Malkin, the top two centers, and first-line left wing Jake Guentzel. The bottom six could be rebuilt, he said, in a way that could help Crosby and Malkin be in better spots to be game-changers.

Speed is what's most needed, Sullivan said.

"When you look at the identity of the Penguins and how this team has had success, certainly in my time here, but more importantly, with our core group of players, I think speed has always been an important element," Sullivan said. "I think speed is part of the evolution of the game. When you look at the teams that are having success in the League, none of them are slow."

The future of goalie Tristan Jarry, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, is likely the most pressing question facing Pittsburgh.

Jarry was 24-13-7 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .909 save percentage this season. In eight NHL postseason starts, the 28-year-old is 2-6 with a 3.00 GAA and .891 save percentage.

Dubas said the Penguins would consider signing Jarry to a new contract after evaluating other options in free agency or via a trade. In the meantime, he said Sullivan and goalie coach Andy Chiodo will provide a more informed opinion of Jarry.

"I've never been a believer that you can just rely on one guy," Sullivan said. "I think it's important that we have depth at that position. … That position, in particular, is vitally important, as we all know. I know we have some tough decisions there. Certainly, that will be part of the discussion that we will have with Kyle over the next week or so."

Sullivan said he and Dubas have had preliminary discussions on roster construction but "nothing in detail."

"I'm obviously really excited about the opportunity to work with Kyle," Sullivan said. "I had not had a prior relationship with Kyle up until the last week or so. It's pretty evident to me that he's a real intelligent guy. He's been around the game a long time. Did a real impressive job in Toronto.

"I'm really looking forward to working with him and learning from some of the ideas and some of the insights that he's going to bring to our team."