Report: Penguins to speak with ex-Leafs GM Dubas

The Pittsburgh Penguins were given permission to speak with former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday's edition of "32 Thoughts."

Toronto decided to part ways with Dubas on Friday. His contract expires June 30, so teams wanting to talk to the 37-year-old before that date must get the Maple Leafs' permission.

Pittsburgh fired general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke in April.

The Penguins were very close to the end of their search for a new head of hockey operations before Dubas became available, Friedman added.

Buffalo's Jason Karmanos, Carolina's Eric Tulsky, Dallas' Steve Greeley, New Jersey's Dan MacKinnon, and Tampa Bay's Mathieu Darche are among the candidates believed to have been a part of Pittsburgh's second round of interviews for their GM vacancy, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Dubas was in the Maple Leafs' front office for nine years, operating as the team's GM for the past five. Toronto made the playoffs each year during his tenure at the helm and set single-season franchise records for wins and points. Despite the regular-season success, the Maple Leafs managed just one postseason series victory, which came this year against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Prior to being let go, a candid Dubas spoke about his uncertain future and a lack of interest in moving elsewhere.

"I definitely don't have it in me to go anywhere else," he said. "It'll either be here (with the Leafs) or it'll be taking time to recalibrate and reflect on the seasons here. You won't see me next week pop up elsewhere; I can't put (my family) through that after this year."