GM Dubas knows he’s on the hot seat
As he enters his eighth season with the Toronto Maple Leafs — and fourth as general manager — Kyle Dubas gets it.
Speaking on Thursday on The Bob Mccown Podcast with Mccown and co-host John Shannon, Dubas understands the notion that the 2021-22 season could be his final swing as Toronto's GM if more playoff disappointment becomes reality next spring.
“I think it's certainly fair to ponder and especially given the fact we are going to return the same core group, which I have great belief in,” Dubas said. “If I didn't have belief in it, knowing the consequences to the team, we wouldn't have returned it.
“I think it's certainly fair to say that if there aren't changes to our performance in the end, there will be changes to the organization. That comes with the territory in operating in a market like this and operating with a team that hasn't reached its potential in the playoffs.”
As for making no changes to the core, one that includes Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, captain John Tavares (who has a no-move clause), William Nylander and defenceman Morgan Rielly, Dubas acknowledged that he didn't leave any stone unturned as he contemplated the Leafs' future following the collapse in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.
So yes, Dubas thought about the possibility of trading one of the core, though it doesn't sound like it got past that point with any seriousness.
“We look at everything regardless,” Dubas said. “I know there is a feeling that the core group is protected and we have a strong belief in them, but we would look at anything that would improve our team overall.
“The time for sentiment and different things like that have come and gone as the years have gone past where we have not broken through to what many deem as our potential.
“None of those opportunities, we felt, came along in the summer where it was going to tangibly improve our team. It would have made us different, but it would not have necessarily made us better.”
And Dubas realizes there is the idea that he has built a great regular-season team — the Leafs, who have not won a playoff series since 2004, ran away with the North Division last year, only to lose in seven games to Montreal — but not a great playoff team.
“I think it's fair until we show that we can have success in the playoffs,” Dubas said. “I have no issue with that.”
Dubas scuttled rumours of Leafs interest in New Jersey Devils defenceman P.K. Subban, who is heading into the final year of his contract with a cap hit of $9-million US.
“I can definitively say that we have not thought a single thing about any player that is going to be a free agent a year from now,” Dubas said without mentioning Subban by name.
Dubas has his own bigname free agent to worry about as Rielly will be due a raise after his contract, with a $5-million hit, expires next summer. How the cashstrapped Leafs find a way to retain Rielly isn't yet clear.
“Morgan has been an excellent person and player for us, and I don't see any circumstance where we wouldn't want to keep him,” Dubas said.
Dubas, importantly, expects no COVID issues with the Leafs.
“Between players and staff, we will be 100% vaccinated,” Dubas said.