End of Season Pressers (Monday May 15)

[andora]

Not in my field, emotion can be destructive. I can see why Dubas gets bent over on these trades.

It can potentially be destructive in any field

There have been a couple trades i havent agreed with.. but i dont see him consistently getting bent over

 

[ACC1224]

A buddy just text me and said that the Leafs are doing interviews. Anyone else hear that?

 

[Clark4Ever]

Dubas has very young children. The amount of time he has had to spend away from his family the last few years has likely taken it's toll on him and his wife.

I think he was being genuine when he said he will either stay in Toronto or step away from the game for a while.

The next couple of days will be pivotal for the franchise.

 

[rocketman588]

Firing Shanny to hire Dubas would be as stupid as firing Dubas to hire Keefe because we had a good trade deadline.

I think the only people that actually think this is what will happen are people grasping at straws because they want Dubas here desperately.

I also don't think he's getting a Pittsburgh offer

 

[Gabriel426]

I assumed it meant he was offered an extension that morning and wanted to speak to the family before signing it.

That’s exactly what I thought.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Penguins Notebook: Bonino Bouncing Back; Dubas’ Dubious Decision

The IIHF World Championship tournament doesn’t usually get much attention from Pittsburgh Penguins fans. It often has conflicted with the Penguins’ participation in the Stanley Cup playoffs, although that hasn’t been an issue in recent years, so they rarely have players or prospects involved...

pittsburghhockeynow.com

Lost Leverage

Kyle Dubas probably deserves credit for his candor Monday, when he said he isn’t interested in being a general manager anywhere except Toronto, at least in the coming season.

It didn’t necessarily reflect well on his skills as a negotiator, though.

Dubas’ contract with the Maple Leafs is about to expire, and reports suggest that ownership there is interested in keeping him.

After weeks of speculation that he would be a — maybe the — leading candidate to replace Ron Hextall as GM of the Penguins, Dubas effectively snuffed any possibility of that happening.

In the process, he also stripped himself of some leverage that could have helped him get better money or more favorable terms in any deal he eventually might strike with the Maple Leafs.

 

[BallardEra]

That’s exactly what I thought.

I didn't get that at all. I could see it if Shanahan was there or if it was such an insulting offer made for Dubas to walk away.

 

[rocketman588]

Penguins Notebook: Bonino Bouncing Back; Dubas’ Dubious Decision

The IIHF World Championship tournament doesn’t usually get much attention from Pittsburgh Penguins fans. It often has conflicted with the Penguins’ participation in the Stanley Cup playoffs, although that hasn’t been an issue in recent years, so they rarely have players or prospects involved...

pittsburghhockeynow.com

Lost Leverage

Kyle Dubas probably deserves credit for his candor Monday, when he said he isn’t interested in being a general manager anywhere except Toronto, at least in the coming season.

It didn’t necessarily reflect well on his skills as a negotiator, though.

Dubas’ contract with the Maple Leafs is about to expire, and reports suggest that ownership there is interested in keeping him.

After weeks of speculation that he would be a — maybe the — leading candidate to replace Ron Hextall as GM of the Penguins, Dubas effectively snuffed any possibility of that happening.

In the process, he also stripped himself of some leverage that could have helped him get better money or more favorable terms in any deal he eventually might strike with the Maple Leafs.

The owners talk. MLSE most likely knew he wasn't getting the job anyways

I think his last gasp negotiating was the weird Pridham shit that the Flames "were thinking about asking about talking to him". Through Saravellli who was the source of most of the pens stuff

Trying to get MLSE to panic about the likely interim also being gone

 

[1specter]

Dubas has very young children. The amount of time he has had to spend away from his family the last few years has likely taken it's toll on him and his wife.

I think he was being genuine when he said he will either stay in Toronto or step away from the game for a while.

The next couple of days will be pivotal for the franchise.

Yeah, not sure why this is being spun as him looking for sympathy lol. I respect his candidness tbh

 

[ACC1224]

I didn't get that at all. I could see it if Shanahan was there or if it was such an insulting offer made for Dubas to walk away.

Why would he talk to his wife if the offer was insulting?
Shanahan not being there made perfect sense, IMO.

 

[hockeywiz542]

According to hockey insider Chris Johnston, the MLSE board is finally willing to grant Kyle Dubas a contract extension after declining to do so last summer, but there’s a desire to wrap things up quickly. We’re talking as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to sources.

Emotional Dubas leaves future with Maple Leafs in doubt - NorthStar Bets

Without knowing the extent of his family situation – or being able to fully measure the human cost of investing everything he had into being Leafs GM – it seemed at least plausible that Dubas may be burnt out.

And if that’s the case, the 37-year-old should be granted the space and privacy needed to take care of matters far more important than chasing a Stanley Cup.

Except the challenge hanging over this particular situation is time.

The MLSE board is finally willing to grant Dubas a contract extension after declining to do so last summer, but there’s a desire to wrap things up quickly. We’re talking as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to sources.

While that makes logistical sense given the volume of looming decisions – making a determination on Sheldon Keefe and his coaching staff, finalizing draft preparations, working out a contract extension with Auston Matthews (and possibly William Nylander), exploring the market for core-altering trades – it’s going to be a tight turnaround for someone in the mindspace we saw Dubas display.

In the event he decides to walk away, as unfathomable as that seems, the Leafs would need to scramble quickly for a Plan B.

Perhaps it’s as simple as promoting assistant general manager Brandon Pridham, who has been with the organization since August 2014 as a salary cap specialist and has since added important responsibilities like taking the lead on contract negotiations. He’s a valued asset that would provide continuity and has been linked to the ongoing Calgary Flames GM search.

Many of the external candidates are well down the road in the process for other job openings, although one that isn’t – recently departed Flames GM Brad Treliving – would likely be of strong interest.

Again, though, we are only a little more than six weeks out from the start of free agency. The timing won’t allow for a comprehensive search.

Notably, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan elected not to join Dubas for Monday’s year-end media availability, which is a significant departure from past practice. Shanahan will speak in the coming days, according to Leafs PR.

 

[Mess]

I didn't get the impression he was concerned for himself but for his family.

With the draft and free agency coming up he would only be in demand in the next few weeks/month.

How much fallout to his family is based on Dubas job performance? Kyle being torn apart in the media and on social media has got to be tough on family members in such a hockey frenzy market. That is what Dubas might be referring to in terms of talking to family. If Dubas was having success with Leaf playoff results there would be more praise then criticism, based on the mood of the mob.

In regards to the draft .. Dubas contract runs until June 30th and because he has all Leafs inside info on draft rankings and scouting and because of that MLSE would not want him involved in another teams decision making at the expense of the Leafs. So there would be no advantage to let Dubas go earlier then his contract expiry date and so it appears this will be stretched out as long as possible.

 

[Gabriel426]

I didn't get that at all. I could see it if Shanahan was there or if it was such an insulting offer made for Dubas to walk away.

If we take what Dubas said instead of speculating what happened.

Dubas said he needs to talk to his family before making a decision to be GM or take time off.
Either Leafs or nowhere.

Sounds more like there is an offer on the table and he wants to think about it.

1. It could be a lowball offer
2. Conditional offer and must do X, Y and Z
3. He knows what he needs to do if he extend and he doesn’t like it
4. It could just be that he needs to let his wife knows about the offer before signing off as a form of respect. Which is normal

 

[ACC1224]

I predict Shanahan announces Dubas' 4 year extension tomorrow.

If we take what Dubas said instead of speculating what happened.

Dubas said he needs to talk to his family before making a decision to be GM or take time off.
Either Leafs or nowhere.

Sounds more like there is an offer on the table and he wants to think about it.

1. It could be a lowball offer
2. Conditional offer and must do X, Y and Z
3. He knows what he needs to do if he extend and he doesn’t like it
4. It could just be that he needs to let his wife knows about the offer before signing off as a form of respect. Which is normal

I wouldn't think it was a 'lowball offer'.
MLSE/Leafs may be a lot of things but they aren't cheap.

 

[BallardEra]

Why would he talk to his wife if the offer was insulting?
Shanahan not being there made perfect sense, IMO.

To see what she still thought about it. Hope I'm wrong but I think he's gone.

 

[ACC1224]

To see what she still thought about it. Hope I'm wrong but I think he's gone.

Why would they make him an 'insulting offer' though?
They aren't known for being cheap

 

[Gabriel426]

I predict Shanahan announces Dubas' 4 year extension tomorrow.


I wouldn't think it was a 'lowball offer'.
MLSE/Leafs may be a lot of things but they aren't cheap.

Lowball meant not as good as Dubas thought, could be money or terms

 

[BallardEra]

Why would they make him an 'insulting offer' though?
They aren't known for being cheap

It's possible they don't want him back so this way they save face and say they made him offer.

There is definitely friction there between Shanahan and Dubas.

Could be a power struggle.

 

[ACC1224]

It's possible they don't want him back so this way they save face and say they made him offer.

IMO, if they don't want him back they wouldn't play games they would just announce he isn't coming back.
Who do they need to 'save face' from?

 

[BallardEra]

IMO, if they don't want him back they wouldn't play games they would just announce he isn't coming back.
Who do they need to 'save face' from?

The media and fans that might want Dubas back.

 

[al secord]

It's possible they don't want him back so this way they save face and say they made him offer.

There is definitely friction there between Shanahan and Dubas.

Could be a power struggle.

They don't seem like the type of organization that need or want to play those type of games. They could care less about the fallout in the media whether they keep him on or not.

 

[ACC1224]

The media and fans that might want Dubas back.

Not seeing why they would care about that, they never have in the past.

 

[stickty111]

According to hockey insider Chris Johnston, the MLSE board is finally willing to grant Kyle Dubas a contract extension after declining to do so last summer, but there’s a desire to wrap things up quickly. We’re talking as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to sources.

Emotional Dubas leaves future with Maple Leafs in doubt - NorthStar Bets

View attachment 709298

Without knowing the extent of his family situation – or being able to fully measure the human cost of investing everything he had into being Leafs GM – it seemed at least plausible that Dubas may be burnt out.

And if that’s the case, the 37-year-old should be granted the space and privacy needed to take care of matters far more important than chasing a Stanley Cup.

Except the challenge hanging over this particular situation is time.

The MLSE board is finally willing to grant Dubas a contract extension after declining to do so last summer, but there’s a desire to wrap things up quickly. We’re talking as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to sources.

While that makes logistical sense given the volume of looming decisions – making a determination on Sheldon Keefe and his coaching staff, finalizing draft preparations, working out a contract extension with Auston Matthews (and possibly William Nylander), exploring the market for core-altering trades – it’s going to be a tight turnaround for someone in the mindspace we saw Dubas display.

In the event he decides to walk away, as unfathomable as that seems, the Leafs would need to scramble quickly for a Plan B.

Perhaps it’s as simple as promoting assistant general manager Brandon Pridham, who has been with the organization since August 2014 as a salary cap specialist and has since added important responsibilities like taking the lead on contract negotiations. He’s a valued asset that would provide continuity and has been linked to the ongoing Calgary Flames GM search.

Many of the external candidates are well down the road in the process for other job openings, although one that isn’t – recently departed Flames GM Brad Treliving – would likely be of strong interest.

Again, though, we are only a little more than six weeks out from the start of free agency. The timing won’t allow for a comprehensive search.

Notably, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan elected not to join Dubas for Monday’s year-end media availability, which is a significant departure from past practice. Shanahan will speak in the coming days, according to Leafs PR.

Basically an extension is there if Dubas wants it.

 

[Mess]

A buddy just text me and said that the Leafs are doing interviews. Anyone else hear that?

Not surprising or unexpected.

With Shanahan not around or available for comment, you would think that the organization would be doing its due diligence and see what all their options are going forward.

With Bell and Rogers and Tanenbaun all involved in ownership there is no reason to believe everyone is unanimously on board with Dubas going forward and looking at all options available.

The fact Ownership left Dubas dangling in a lame duck position on expiring contract with a "prove it or earn it extension" suggests Dubas being their man is not 100% confirmed yet.

However with all the big critical decisons coming up via draft and free agency and MNC kicking in, there is not a lot of time for a new guy to come in and hit the ground running. So Dubas might be their safety net position instead of #1 choice.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I am confident that the Leafs extended a fair offer to Dubas.

His reluctance to announce a decision yesterday has nothing to do with money.