What could be the fallout of Kyle Dubas’ departure in Toronto?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have moved on from general manager Kyle Dubas – a move that still seems surprising, but also seemed inevitable the longer we went without any news on the situation. While the team didn’t get the results in the playoffs, there’s no doubt that he brought significant improvements to the team and wasn’t afraid of making bold moves if he felt like it was the right one to make.
Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna talked about Dubas’ departure in Toronto on Daily Faceoff Live, as well as what could be the ensuing effects in the Maple Leafs’ organization, especially with Auston Matthews’ looming free agent status next year.
Mike McKenna: You listen to Kyle Dubas speak at the end of the season and that it wasn’t a question about whether his heart was in it to me, it was just a question of, from both sides, is it working? Does Dubas really want to stick around? Does he feel like it’s run its course in Toronto? That’s what I couldn’t figure out. And then when the family aspect seemed to be added to that extra layer, even though Dubas is a free agent, it really didn’t feel like he was going to be outgunning for other jobs. It kind of was Toronto or bust, and it’s busted.
I just think when I look at Dubas’ tenure, he took some pretty big swings. I don’t think he did enough of the depth to make the right calls, especially in goal, that was the one thing I always thought could do him.
But I wonder how much this is both sides? Do you have any feel on that at all?
Frank Seravalli: Well actually, we do have some clarity here in the last moments since you and I started speaking. The Toronto Maple Leafs sending out a statement letting everyone know that the club has decided to part ways with general manager Kyle Dubas. So this is not a Dubas decision, this is not a mutual agreement to part ways. Of course, we knew that his contract was set to expire on June 30th, but it seems as if the wording of this announcement that the Leafs would not be bringing him back. It’s their choice, not his. So here is the quote from Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan:
So, I guess this is kind of what I was getting at speaking on Toronto Radio earlier this morning on the Fan590. There seemed to be this thought process out there that “oh man, what are the Leafs going to do. They can’t afford to lose this guy, he’s so smart. Look at how well he’s built this team.” And I kind of go back and gone through the pros and the cons of Kyle Dubas’ tenure and I don’t think that lines up with the actual reality of the situation.
He was handed a pretty impressive group of players from the Maple Leafs and how they drafted. He certainly played a part in that as well, but Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly, Freddie Andersen in net, that was a pretty good starting place with a fresh slate of mostly entry-level contracts. Now, the Leafs are in a spot where they’re backed into a corner with the salary cap, we had questions about their roster construction, there are all sorts of things that have popped up along the way, and they had no playoff success to speak of. I guess I kind of didn’t understand from the beginning why this was always assumed to be an absolute slam dunk, am I crazy?
Mike McKenna: No, I didn’t think it was a slam dunk at all, from both sides. I think I have a bit of a rosier outlook on what Dubas did. I thought that this year especially, he pushed his chips in. And I’m not sure how well he managed the cap having three players that are all in the $10 million range, but they were also growing into their roles too when you’re talking about Marner and Matthews.
And now I just have to wonder for the franchise, where does it go? Matthews is a free agent in a year. So it leaves a lot of question marks for that franchise, it takes some stability from it, and I can’t wait to see who goes into that position next.
Frank Seravalli: I have a real curious thought, I wonder if the Maple Leafs allowed Brandon Pridham, their assistant GM, to speak to the Calgary Flames. I don’t have clarity on that, all I know is that the Flames were certainly interested, so that’s one, he could be an internal candidate. I wonder if Lawrence Gilman, who’s been stashed away with the Toronto Marlies is one as well. Will Brendan Shanahan take on a more direct role with the Leafs? I doubt that happens but I think you can’t rule that out as well.
So I’d be real curious to see and hear some details on what the fallout is as you mentioned. Also how it fell apart, how it got to this point, because I think clearly the Leafs had wanted to have Kyle Dubas back. And then like you said, the domino effect that comes with this next, Auston Matthews one year away from free agency. I mentioned earlier today, Kyle Dubas not coming back, I think the chance of Auston Matthews not wanting to re-sign multiplies. Kyle Dubas and Auston Matthews are very tightly connected, a believer in his plan, a believer in his thought process.
You can watch the full episode here…