Kyle Dubas not returning as GM

[Guilt Trip]

Not giving autonomy to the future GM is going to cost us chances at the very best candidates. And I mean, it already has.

I agree, but already has meaning Dubas? It'll be hard to see a power struggle like this if Lou was in charge. I think the team needs an experienced GM who they feel like they don't have to watch so closely.

Which reads to me like, Shanahan kept the guy that wasn't a threat to him, until he became one.

Agreed.

x2

[Bender]

Not giving autonomy to the future GM is going to cost us chances at the very best candidates. And I mean, it already has.

I agree, but already has meaning Dubas? It'll be hard to see a power struggle like this if Lou was in charge. I think the team needs an experienced GM who they feel like they don't have to watch so closely.

Which reads to me like, Shanahan kept the guy that wasn't a threat to him, until he became one.

I really don't know if I buy that entirely. All Dubas had to do was hang on a bit longer and do more to ingratiate himself to ownership instead of trying to force this at the 11th hour. I have a hard time believing Shanahan would go out of his way to screw over Dubas and try to take credit for good moves if the team had more playoff success.

Ultimately why would you try to strong arm your way into the GM and President role with what Dubas accomplished by blaming Shanny for where they are? The issue was never the supporting cast, it was the extent of which the core 4 took of the cap and the limited funds and throwing away of draft capital and a spotty drafting record thats causing bigger problems. I dont for a second think it was Shanahans idea to not entertain or execute trades for the core 4. Icarus flew too close to the sun imo.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/pierrevlebrun/status/1660024883848310786

Interesting that the reported candidates, or at least potential candidates for the Leafs and Pens gigs couldn't be any more different.

[Andy]

Man, I really would have loved to have seen what a full-autonomous Dubas squad could have looked like. Too bad. Anyway, I just hope the next GM doesn't get sucked into the frat-boy, old-guard, chest-pounding, self-proclaimed alpha bullpoop rhetoric that much of the rabid fan base seems to eat up so much. And I thought I was somewhat apathetic this season.. :(

[Arn]

Saw in one of the many articles about this shitshow that Quenniville would be keen on the Leafs job.

If that happens I'm out for good.

[Nik]

Saw in one of the many articles about this shitshow that Quenniville would be keen on the Leafs job.

If that happens I'm out for good.

Yeah, that would be tough to get behind.

[CarltonTheBear]

Saw in one of the many articles about this shitshow that Quenniville would be keen on the Leafs job.

If that happens I'm out for good.

I imagine Quenneville would be pretty keen for any job at this point.

[herman]

Is William Nylander now the safest core member

[bustaheims]

I feel like people are putting a lot of faith into the type of speculation that comes out whenever a GM is dismissed in an atypical fashion. I'm not saying they're definitely not true, but they really need to be taken with a heaping bowl of salt instead of being accepted as the reality.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dimfilipovic/status/1660105067641589760
Claude and Brendan Lemieux for GM/AGM

[Peter D.]

It is a little suspicious that the notion of presidency meddling occurred is coming out after the fact.  The Toronto media are always looking for something, and if there was a rift between Shanahan and Dubas as has been speculated the last couple of years, you would think something like that would have been leaked to the media well before these past few days (likely to Mirtle who seemingly Dubas has in his back pocket). 

The more I think of it, the more it seems like Dubas was scheming his way within the team.  His outrageous demands from the other day kind of telling.  And if indeed that is being so, I'm glad Shanahan punted his ass.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Two columns on MLHS are pushing back on the Shanahan Is Evil storyline.  Granted, those guys have been calling for Keefe's head for awhile, and since Keefe is Dubas's hand-picked guy, then you might expect them to be pro-Shanny in this one, though they are careful to not absolve him of all blame.

This is all very soap-opera but functionally it's the same as a "clean" decision to move on from Dubas/Keefe given their lack of playoff success, which really wouldn't be a very controversial move.

[mr grieves]

This is all very soap-opera but functionally it's the same as a "clean" decision to move on from Dubas/Keefe given their lack of playoff success, which really wouldn't be a very controversial move.

I agree that it should be much simpler than the narrative that's being spun up around it. I think what makes it not so simple is the timing — not of the last week, but of the GM's contract status and that of three key stars.

If, even after disappointing post seasons, Dubas was in the best position to re-sign Matthews and get a good deal for Marner before his NMC kicks in, and Matthews walks or Marner's dictating trae terms, then it's a disaster for the franchise.

[Nik]

If, even after disappointing post seasons, Dubas was in the best position to re-sign Matthews and get a good deal for Marner before his NMC kicks in, and Matthews walks or Marner's dictating trae terms, then it's a disaster for the franchise.

That's where I keep coming back to. It's a near certainty that guys like Spezza were popular guys to have around. Whatever gains you might think might be made by bringing in a new GM, it seems really unlikely that it will outweigh throwing a hand grenade into the front office when you're trying to convince guys to come back at reasonable rates.

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/pierrevlebrun/status/1660024883848310786

Interesting that the reported candidates, or at least potential candidates for the Leafs and Pens gigs couldn't be any more different.

I mean, the Pens did have Burke and Hextall so I definitely get it.