PITTSBURGH — If you’re Kyle Dubas, you need to have some tough conversations.

It’s time.

THE Pittsburgh Penguins are 6-9-2, which, while not a good record, shouldn’t necessarily cause a franchise to abandon a season and worry specifically about the future.

If you saw the first period of Monday’s 7-1 loss to the Dallas StarsHowever, you know. The smell of rot in PPG Paints Arena was strong enough that the brave citizens who worked for all 60 minutes should have considered some form of self-preservation.

For the first time in Penguins history, they allowed six goals in the first period of a home game.

And for the first time in generations, the Penguins and their loyal fans have no hope.

Dubas needs to think about it. He is not only general manager but also president of hockey operations. He leads the entire series and his recent actions indicate that he is far more interested in the future than the present. It’s good. This is as it should be. But it must amplify these feelings considerably.

What happened against the Stars is the only proof that should be required. Six goals in the first half. Six. Most of them are on odd carries, which is the Penguins’ patented way of giving up goals.

It’s time to make a plan. A well-defined one. The cutthroat attitude that began with Ron Hextall and continues largely under Dubas is wearing thin. This team is not going to win and Dubas knows it. He’s not stupid.

This team will not make the playoffs. It’s not a threat. He can’t sustain a good game for more than 20 minutes at a time. Why is it necessary for this team to spend up to the salary cap? Why do veterans like Kevin Hayes, Christmas Acciari And Ryan Graves playing in front of young players? To hell with wages, it’s time for it to stop. A youth movement is only reasonable at this point.

So yes, some conversations need to happen.

• Is Mike Sullivan the right person to coach this team? It’s a valid question. Something is not working regarding the messaging from Sullivan’s staff and the team. I hold Sullivan in the highest regard as a man and a coach. He’s great. His place in franchise history is secure. But is this a well-coached team? It certainly doesn’t seem like it.

It’s time for Dubas to speak with Sullivan. I’m not saying Sullivan should be fired. I say the coaching staff needs to be held accountable because what we are watching is not acceptable.

Sullivan was vulnerable and direct after the match.

“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m frustrated,” Sullivan said. “I’m not. I am determined to move this team forward. I know we are a much better hockey team than we showed today. And I know we have a group of guys who care. None of us feel good about it. We try to improve every day. We’re trying to figure out what winning should look like with the team we have right now. This means eliminating risk. This means competing hard. That means making sure we play defense when necessary.

It was classic Sullivan. I know this man well enough to know that he was sincere. He is an eternal optimist and he absolutely believes in this group, especially its core. It’s admirable, really.

But this is a group that clearly doesn’t listen to him. Maybe it’s the group’s fault. But we need to tackle this problem and understand it quickly.

• What is the point of keeping Marcus Pettersson, Rickard Rakell And Lars Eller?

We all know they will be traded before the deadline, including Pettersson and Eller. Why wait until then if an enthusiastic team is there?

Lars Eller moves the puck as Stars defenseman Thomas Harley puts pressure on during the third period. (Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)

What is it for? Isn’t it better to start rebuilding now? Penguins fans are an intelligent breed. They know what championship teams look like. They know what playoff teams look like.

They know this team is neither.

Hope sells in professional sports. Hope is everything. If a fan base has hope, tickets are sold, merchandise is sold, television ratings soar, and a general sense of optimism sweeps the region. This can be a beautiful thing.

As things stand, there is no hope. The sooner Dubas initiates a reconstruction, rather than signing Matt Grzelcyk and by trading for Hayes (I know, the draft pick was helpful) this summer, the top prospect will be reborn in Pittsburgh.

• Maybe it’s time to talk to Kris LetangAlso.

It’s obvious Sydney Crosby And Evgeny Malkin will end their careers in Pittsburgh, as they should. Franchise icons have the right to end up in the same place.

Letang is an all-time great and will one day be in the Hall of Fame, but will he play the rest of his career in Pittsburgh? I have my doubts. This loss disgusts him, and I never felt the need for him to stay in Pittsburgh like I long felt from Crosby and Malkin.

“They scored a few random goals, nothing crazy, and we folded,” Letang said after Monday’s embarrassment. “We didn’t respond. And we gave them even more chances to meet that need. As a team we have to be able to overcome a bad start. You know, if you lose the lead from the start, you have to fight and at least limit the damage. We have to find a way to do it.

That doesn’t sound like someone enjoying the season, does it? I’m not saying he wants to go. I say he might be willing. And if that were the case, the Penguins should think about it.

If he wants to go somewhere and there’s a dance partner, don’t the Penguins have to do it?

I don’t think Erik KarlssonThe contract is negotiable. Same with Graves. Same with Tristan Jarry.

The Penguins need to take some money off the books and ignite the prospects and draft gear. There is no other way.

During Monday’s game, Eddie Johnston, the 88-year-old godfather of the Penguins, said in the press box that he had never seen anything like what happened to the Penguins in the first period. It’s important to remember that EJ was the general manager of the Penguins from 1983-84, the worst team in franchise history and one of the worst teams in history. NHL history. Even he couldn’t watch anymore.

The Penguins were quick to point out that they’ve been playing better in recent games, and on the surface, that’s true. The victory against the Washington Capitals on Friday was indeed a good victory.

But we’re operating outside of reality if we think this team is going anywhere this season. I applaud Sullivan for not abandoning ship. Same with Crosby, Malkin and Letang. They will fight until the end because that is who they are. They are champions.

Dubas’ goal should be to surround Crosby with a young core of talented players within two or three years, when he is at the end of his career. Maybe Crosby will win. That would be quite a story. And it’s not impossible. Rebuilds can happen quickly.

But that can’t happen until you start.

It’s time.

(Top photo by Ryan Graves and Evgenii Dadonov: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)