Confirmed with Link: Dubas the new GM - TSN

[Leaf4Life79]

What an absolute beauty! I can't really call him a kid as I am only his elder by 6 years, however, his IQ seems off the chart to me! look what he did with the Soo Greyhounds.... look what he just did with the MARLIES, MY GOSH !!!! all the suckers that called us 'laffs' and 'plan the parade' well..... the parade may very well get underway soon GO LEAFS GO!

 

[LeafingTheWay]

It's always irritated and annoyed me how little respect Dubas has gotten the past year by fans and even our own Leaf fans. Players and management he's worked with have always said very positive things that they don't normally say about others.

I hope this Tavares deals help solidify that Dubas doesn't need to beg or struggle for respect, he gets respect wherever he goes at any level of hockey he's been at.

 

[Voight]

It's always irritated and annoyed me how little respect Dubas has gotten the past year by fans and even our own Leaf fans. Players and management he's worked with have always said very positive things that they don't normally say about others.

I hope this Tavares deals help solidify that Dubas doesn't need to beg or struggle for respect, he gets respect wherever he goes at any level of hockey he's been at.

Do you need to be reminded that the Leafs are a second class organization on HFB? It doesn't matter what they do - hire the top coach, draft one of the highest rated prospects post-lockout, sign a star player - they will always suck and their people will be underrated.

I can't wait for all the "well Tavares scored 84 points b/c his team sucked" or "he won't perform under the microscope"

 

[hotpaws]

That's not really the point. It's the progressive attitude and thinking that I like. I think most GM's are so hockey focused that they wouldn't consider a tactic like this as a way to improve. Even if the Raptors have never landed LeBron, they can still offer feedback on different situations and pitches.

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

 

[DanM]

He's going to tell you that Tavares is overrated and really not that good. Hart votes mean nothing b/c the PWHA votes on it. Tavares was projected to be generational and because he's "only" a star player, he failed. Etc etc

Yep

The usual garbage from his trash mouth.

Nobody get's my blood boiling more. The sad part is he could be a great poster, but decides to just take shots at us.

 

[Kiwi]

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

Certainly some of that is true but you are underplaying Dubas and his ability to get into a room look somebody in the eye and explain his plan and how he's going to make his organisation successful in a way that gets people to by in and want to be a part of it

He's sold Shanahan on himself and how he can manage the Leafs into the future, he just sold Tavares on the Leafs and his/there direction and plan as well

 

[saltming]

Certainly some of that is true but you are underplaying Dubas and his ability to get into a room look somebody in the eye and explain his plan and how he's going to make his organisation successful in a way that gets people to by in and want to be a part of it

He's sold Shanahan on himself and how he can manage the Leafs into the future, he just sold Tavares on the Leafs and his/there direction and plan as well

There are 3 posters off the top of my head that will only spin a negative about Dubas on this and when he actually makes a mistake they will crucify him

 

[LeafingTheWay]

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

Agreed but take in how THIS management group did make some special out of the box pitch, a pitch they've been working on for the past 3 years aka our young core and future.

 

[Menzinger]

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

By the guy’s own words he said he was impressed with the pitch, I don’t think you’re really in a position to counter that?

The fact that apparently his decision wasn’t made until literally the last minute likely implies every little thing played a factor in the decision. It was hardly a forgone conclusion from the start of this process he was going to sign in Toronto (especially since we know he had higher money offers elsewhere).

 

[hotpaws]

Certainly some of that is true but you are underplaying Dubas and his ability to get into a room look somebody in the eye and explain his plan and how he's going to make his organisation successful in a way that gets people to by in and want to be a part of it

He's sold Shanahan on himself and how he can manage the Leafs into the future, he just sold Tavares on the Leafs and his/there direction and plan as well

underestimate what exactly ? the guy had no track record at this time at this level other than selling himself to Shanny

we had a 105 pts last year , Dubas didn't over a bottom feeder and JT is well aware who Mathews/Marner and the rest of the team are

there's no Jedi mind f***ing going on here and JT wasn't coming here if we were a weak team without high end talent just because the Sith lord Dubas sold him on some super special plan to build a winner

also Dubas himself said the pitch was about promoting our young elite core and not about spewing philosophies about how he was going too build a winner

 

[Borschevsky]

Kyle did well but we all know Tavares choosing Toronto was all due to gramma Dubas

 

[hotpaws]

By the guy’s own words he said he was impressed with the pitch, I don’t think you’re really in a position to counter that?

The fact that apparently his decision wasn’t made until literally the last minute likely implies every little thing played a factor in the decision. It was hardly a forgone conclusion from the start of this process he was going to sign in Toronto (especially since we know he had higher money offers elsewhere).

i couldn't give a damn what players say for public consumption since JT also said endlessly during the season he's a loyal guy and had every intent on re signing with the Islanders even though he didn't want to sign for whatever reason during the season according to their fans

and JT also said it was the Leafs having a young elite core that would he able to make them a contenders for the life of his contract as a major reason he signed here

but hey i'll agree with you and go with he would have signed here even if we didn't have MNM because he believed Dubas would magically transform the Leafs into a contender over night because

 

[Polaris1010]

also Dubas himself said the pitch was about promoting our young elite core and not about spewing philosophies about how he was going too build a winner

I cannot believe this, this signing.

Was it good? It makes the Leafs an instant contender again.

Dubas I do not really like because people here claim he is an advance stats guy, which is rather unproven.

Then he goes out and does exactly what Pat Quinn would have done, and most of Coach Quinn's moves never panned out, other than leaving the cupboard bare.

Remember what Babcock said about Nylander and how he is going to play center a long time for Toronto? They never really tried him at center. If he is going to play center in Toronto, he would be the checking center. Nylander probably on his way out, sooner or later.

This one signing, means they do not see Nylander as a core player. Did they really give Nylander a chance? Pat Quinn all over again. He loved his old teams.

Didn't think this advance stats guy would go that route. But he has.

 

[Mikeyg]

good boy dubby, take notes boys, sometimes the new kid on the block wins the grapes.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

Like Daisy said, Tavares is the first 1st overall to leave his team in UFA since 1995, a 23 year span. That has to count for something.

I also think you're underestimating how many experts and fans expected this to not happen. Yes the Leafs were in as good a position as any to woo him, but they still needed to compete with roughly 5 other teams to make him come here.

Lest we forget the last time the Leafs attempted to attract a big name free agent, they scared him off by introducing to many factors and cooks into the presentation and negotiation. This time, Dubas kept it all in house, and talked about the organization itself, without making some big show of involving the Mayor and the CEO of some company.

 

[Menzinger]

i couldn't give a damn what players say for public consumption since JT also said endlessly during the season he's a loyal guy and had every intent on re signing with the Islanders even though he didn't want to sign for whatever reason during the season according to their fans

and JT also said it was the Leafs having a young elite core that would he able to make them a contenders for the life of his contract as a major reason he signed here

but hey i'll agree with you and go with he would have signed here even if we didn't have MNM because he believed Dubas would magically transform the Leafs into a contender over night because

You’re being nonsensical.

Obviously multiple factors went into his decision making for where he chose to go.

Nobody’s claiming that only one thing mattered - that would be pretty silly. What’s just as silly is claiming the 2 hour pitch to the guy had zero impact on his decision. Or that the general manager of the team didn’t play a factor at all - especially with zero tangible evidence to back up any of those outlandish claims.

 

[Kiwi]

underestimate what exactly ? the guy had no track record at this time at this level other than selling himself to Shanny

we had a 105 pts last year , Dubas didn't over a bottom feeder and JT is well aware who Mathews/Marner and the rest of the team are

there's no Jedi mind ****ing going on here and JT wasn't coming here if we were a weak team without high end talent just because the Sith lord Dubas sold him on some super special plan to build a winner

also Dubas himself said the pitch was about promoting our young elite core and not about spewing philosophies about how he was going too build a winner

Getting Shanahan to believe in him at the age of 28 is pretty bloody good and is an example of his ability to sell himself and his ideas

Nice straw man, literally nowhere in my post is anything even close to that Jedi mind trick bull**** your spouting about

He got Tavares to sign a deal for less money to come here, was able to alleviate his concerns about our future cap situation and show him how we're going to build towards a potential Stanley cup with a **** Dcore and a 32 year old GM with minimal NHL experience

Dubas is a young forward thinking GM that gets people to want to come along with him and Tavares can see the value in that, our young players and playing for his home town team

Take a good look, this is what good leadership at the top looks like

 

[Duffman955]

Dubas just made a statement to other GMs, not just by getting Tavares, but by getting him at the price he did.

Hopefully, he has learned and evolved under Lou. Not just in terms of team management, but in terms of people management and the assertation of power.

 

[IBeL34f]

underestimate what exactly ? the guy had no track record at this time at this level other than selling himself to Shanny

we had a 105 pts last year , Dubas didn't over a bottom feeder and JT is well aware who Mathews/Marner and the rest of the team are

there's no Jedi mind ****ing going on here and JT wasn't coming here if we were a weak team without high end talent just because the Sith lord Dubas sold him on some super special plan to build a winner

also Dubas himself said the pitch was about promoting our young elite core and not about spewing philosophies about how he was going too build a winner

Yes, you are correct. JT was sold on our youth, and the fact that our team and age group allow him a realistic opportunity to be successful throughout all 7 years and beyond. Without those things, he doesn't come home.

Kyle Dubas may not be the reason John Tavares signed here, but he obviously didn't hurt, and it's pretty obvious that - whether or not he is the sole reason any specific signing, or trade, or draft pick happens - we have a highly intelligent, meticulous, forward-thinking, charismatic young man leading the charge here.

And as easy as it is to say how obvious a fit Tavares is with the Leafs, we still managed to have hundreds of pages of debate on the topic (not to mention the media coverage), with arguments ranging from the Leafs needing to focus their money on D, to superstars never leaving through free agency, to San Jose/Tampa offering better chances to win now, to Matthews/Tavares not being able to co-exist, and on and on and on. Pundits and fans alike have spent the past 2 weeks trying to explain how big a long-shot Tavares to the Leafs was, and how much likelier he was to re-up with the Islanders or move on to win now with the Sharks. And yet, here we are.

Based on what we've heard, Tavares came into this situation looking to guarantee he was making the right decision, and, after negotiating with rookie GM Kyle Dubas, and seasoned builders Lou Lamoriello and Doug Wilson, left money on the table from the latter two in order to buy into the cap structure and vision presented to him by the former.

I loved watching how excited Dubas got when he was talking about the interview process, how detail-oriented Tavares was with all of his questions about his usage and how they were going to keep the core together moving forward - I got the sense that these were two hockey nerds who simply live for the game, and it was easy to see how they could've gotten along so well during the presentation.

I think we're in good hands.

 

[SprDaVE]

You’re being nonsensical.

Obviously multiple factors went into his decision making for where he chose to go.

Nobody’s claiming that only one thing mattered - that would be pretty silly. What’s just as silly is claiming the 2 hour pitch to the guy had zero impact on his decision. Or that the general manager of the team didn’t play a factor at all - especially with zero tangible evidence to back up any of those outlandish claims.

It's going to be fun to watch him and a few others spin these things to fit their narrative.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

I never said we were some long shot. Your comments that his decision had little do with the pitch are contradicted by his own words. All I ever said was that I liked that Dubas was open to more unconventional ways of preparing and executing this plan to sign him. Not sure why that's worth arguing about.

 

[Judas Tavares]

Dubas > dinosaur

 

[saltming]

@The CyNick have you revised your stance on Dubas?

 

[Liminality]

Burke used to say he talked to other people as well and once said he spoke to a football GM (i forgot which one) before he made the trade for Pronger .

JT signed with us because we have an elite young core that should contend for years , it had little to do with the pitch itself . JT was looking for a team with a long window to win in a market he wanted to play for and the Leafs filled that criteria the best so if we didn't have say Mathews and Marner he wouldn't have even spoken to us regardless of whether he was a home town kid or not .

there's no need to over think this or try to spin it like we were some long shot and our mgmt team made some special out of the box pitch that swayed JT to sign with us when like i already said the simple fact is we have a great young core and he came here because he believes he'll have a chances to win a cup(s) while also becoming the 2nd highest paid player in the league

You think if the Leafs didn't have Dubas, Shanny and Babcock pitch to Tavares he'd still sign with the Leafs?

 

[Daisy Jane]

@The CyNick have you revised your stance on Dubas?

aww, don't be like that, Salt

i think (*even with this amazingly wonderful get) there's going to be a few hurdles that Dubas needs to cross. I will wholeheartedly admit, i am liking the first few months