Penguins turn to Sidney Crosby to evaluate top GM contender

For the first time in 17 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and there were immediate ramifications for several franchise executives. 

It was just after the regular season ended that the team elected to completely clean out their front office, terminating general manager Ron Hextall, assistant general manager Chris Pryor, and president of hockey operations Brian Burke. The search is now on for their replacements.

Former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has been linked to the Penguins since his departure from Toronto, and those rumors are only going to intensify based on this latest report. 

Per Taylor Hasse of DK Pittsburgh Sports, Dubas visited the Penguins practice facility on Tuesday night and met with captain Sidney Crosby as well as members of the team public relations staff: 

"A source with knowledge of the situation told DK Pittsburgh Sports that Dubas, an apparent finalist for the GM vacancy, was at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for a session that extended late into Tuesday night. Sidney Crosby also was there and was believed to be among those who met with Dubas. Members of the Penguins' public relations staff also were on hand."

Buckle up Penguins fans, because if Dubas is meeting with Crosby along with other team members at the practice facility, it's a very good sign that a deal could potentially be in the works!