If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan half a glass full, the past 72 hours will have tested your patience. Major local media outlets and prominent hockey insiders have issued numerous reports indicating that a civil war has broken out within the organization. It doesn’t stop there… If you log on to Twitter, you’ll see that the organization is doomed, and Kyle Dubas’ release was the worst thing that ever happened to Blue and White.
In fact, the Leafs are doing just fine, and they actually have a legitimate chance of being better next year (on paper). Let’s dig:
Kyle Dubas
I will start by saying that I am a fan of Kyle Dubas. The way he conducted himself and carried himself was exemplary, and I hope the next Toronto Maple Leafs general manager behaves in a similar manner. He’s done so many great things for the community, and hockey decisions aside, I honestly think he’s a guy who stands up with strong morals. Don’t underestimate these qualities, especially in a city like Toronto where every step is highly scrutinized.
I respected and understood his general theories and Most of the transactions he completed made sense to me at the time. He lived and may have died in the end for sticking to his gun, but I will always respect the vision he had. Of course, it wasn’t perfect, no GM is, and there were definitely some moves that didn’t work out.
I would have been delighted if Brendan Shanahan had stretched out Kyle Dubas, and I have no doubt he would be a hit anytime and anywhere he goes next. I can understand why many Toronto fans are upset that he is no longer in command. The manner in which it happened and ultimately the fact of his passing has left many confused. As the curtain continues to draw back and more and more truths are revealed, the only thing that really matters is who takes his place.
Dubas fully headed the company for five years. In those five years, the Maple Leafs have won one playoff series. Training, underperforming players, sometimes poor health, as well as bad luck and misfortune have all played their part in the sheet’s poor performance. However, the man who compiled the list must also be to blame. This is probably the biggest reason why I remain an optimist. Our just-launched GM has won one modest series in five years…
current management status
As it stands, the Leafs do not have a general manager. Obviously, this is the first domino to fall. Meanwhile, Brandon Pridham will serve as a point of contact for the Maple Leafs. He should undoubtedly be interviewed and highly considered for the job, and is more than capable of steadying the ship during this crucial period.
Whoever the new general manager is, they’ll want to bring their people with them, which means the current assistant general managers, scouts, and hockey operations staff aren’t all necessarily safe. The same goes for the current assistant coaches as well. Dean Chynoweth and Manny Malhotra are definitely on the hot seat. Spencer Carbury is rumored to have interviewed for two different venues, and all indications are that he will likely head off the bench at another venue next year.
It is very unlikely that Sheldon Keefe will coach the Toronto Maple Leafs next year. General managers usually bring in “their guy,” and I fully expect the new GM to thoroughly research the coaching market and bring in someone else. Of course, if Kyle Dupas were to land somewhere else, rumors would certainly be flying around about a Keefe and Dupas reunion.
current player status
I’m sure we are all familiar with the “Core 4” and their expired contracts. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are entering the final year of their deals, while John Tavares and Mitch Marner have two years left. For the purposes of this article, I’m not going to delve any deeper into what Leafs can/should do with the top players mentioned above. All four of them are under contract and if Any of them are traded, we should expect a huge amount in return.
Along with those four forwards, the Leafs will return Kale Garnekrok, Sam Lafferty and Matthew Kniss. That leaves five positions open, as the rest of the group we’ve seen in the playoffs are all free agents. I’m hoping Acciari can be re-signed, and I’m expecting someone else currently under contract pushing for an opening night spot (McMann, Robinson, Holmberg, Steeves).
Obviously the back end is led by Morgan Riley who had a great playoff run. McCabe, Jordano, Brody, Lillegren and Timmins are all signed over the next season. This means that barring any deals, most of this group will remain the same. I hope the Leafs re-sign Luke Schenn, and maybe they should look into trading TJ Brodie, but that’s a song for another time.
On the net, Ilya Samsonov is a restricted free agent. He will undoubtedly return and take over as Toronto’s number one playmaker. Matt Murray has split the crease with Samsonov for big chunks this year, but his time with the Maple Leafs is almost certainly over. He only has a year left at $4.68 million, and the emergence of Joseph Wall and his under-$800,000 salary certainly made Murray expendable. The Thunder Bay native will be dealt with in the summer.
Reasons for optimism
With only seven full-time forwards signed to the NHL, there will be plenty of new faces next season. Another defender or two will join in, and the goalkeeping picture will remain the same as it was during these qualifiers. The most exciting part is that with all of these players signed, there is roughly $20 million in cap space (maybe around $16.5-17 million after the Samsonov deal).
Whoever the new GM is will have plenty of flexibility to sculpt and mold the team however they choose. That’s very exciting. When you consider five of the six top forwards (Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Knis), six other NHL-capable players (Reilly, Lillegren, McCabe, Giordano, Brodie, Timmins) and both starting point guards (Samsonov, Woll) There are plenty of reasons for optimism. With over $16 million to fill the roster, there should be some excitement as we get closer to the draft and free agency.
summary
Losing Dubas was a hard pill to swallow for many, myself included. I sincerely wish him well. The NHL is an ever-evolving industry, and the show will continue to circle for players, coaches, and management alike. No two teams are exactly the same from year to year, and Toronto will go into next year with new management, new players, and probably a new coach. With all of their best players still under contract, plenty of room to play with, and fresh vision from management, Leafs Nation should feel optimistic and excited about this next chapter.