Tribute Kyle Dubas discussion

[Stephen]

I gotta say, the more I think about the Pittsburgh angle, the less it makes sense. If YOU personally were a sought after GM, would you want to go to Pittsburgh, preside over the last handful of legacy seasons from the Crosby Malkin core, and then get to building a new program once they're ready to pack it in? Seems like you would just be Ron Hextall 2.0.

At the other end of the Fenway proposition, feels like the notion that a Toronto hockey GM could parlay zero championships into a directorship role and preside over a sports empire is also quite the stretch. Not saying Dubas couldn't be up for that, but his limited success with the Leafs (considering all the great, winning GM's and executives out there in pro sports) would have to be weighed so heavily.

I think what's more realistic is we have some playoff success and the guy gets a healthy extension with MLSE.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I'm sorry, but by your own admission, Shanahan must be stupid then. Because he did promise a cup:

SIMMONS: At his lowest point, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan still promises the Stanley Cup

Brendan Shanahan came to Toronto to bring the Stanley Cup to his home town.

torontosun.com

Finishing fourth place in the league also doesn't make a contender. Not when they go out first round every year. A contender actually, you know, wins something.

Which this team hasn't.

What do I want?

What I want is simple. I want what the fans were promised: a contending team. Or I want accountability.

Someone needs to be held accountable for all the annual first round losses to inferior opponents.

I'm glad your happy supporting a losing team for all these years. I'm sorry I have more pride in my hometown team and set higher expectations. I don't have a loser mentality that allows me to accept losers losing and expecting people to cheer for them to make millions of dollars to play a game and lose.

If that makes you a better man than I, then wear that badge with honour.

You deserve it.

By “all” I assume you mean 2, one of which came in a 5 game series after a layoff longer than a normal offseason?

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Maybe if you were more invested and vocal something would happen.

Is it your favourite team or not? Do you spend money supporting them year after year? Do you care about this team in any way?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you have earned your right to protest the way it's been managed.

If you are happy with the results so far, that's good for you.

I'm not. And neither are a lot of other fans. That's on ML$E.

We're not getting what we paid for.

Shanahan promised us a contender? Where is it? Because right now this team has not contended for a damn thing all these years.

That might change this year. Or it might not. We will find out in just a couple weeks.

One way or another, I'm almost guaranteed to get what I want this year.

I haven’t paid squat. If you spend your money foolishly, you have choices. That’s on you.

 

[JKG33]

Agreed.

However, since he was hired as GM how many other GM's have won the Cup?

How many GM's of supposed contenders have a whopping 0 playoff series wins to their names? Heck, how many have even 1 or fewer? I'm guessing not many.

And then how many of those guys would be brought back for a 5th season after 4 years of playoff failure?

If Pittsburgh/Fenway is dumb enough to want Dubas, go for it. I just hope it's MLSE making that decision for Dubas.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I'm sorry, but by your own admission, Shanahan must be stupid then. Because he did promise a cup:

SIMMONS: At his lowest point, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan still promises the Stanley Cup

Brendan Shanahan came to Toronto to bring the Stanley Cup to his home town.

torontosun.com

Finishing fourth place in the league also doesn't make a contender. Not when they go out first round every year. A contender actually, you know, wins something.

Which this team hasn't.

What do I want?

What I want is simple. I want what the fans were promised: a contending team. Or I want accountability.

Someone needs to be held accountable for all the annual first round losses to inferior opponents.

I'm glad your happy supporting a losing team for all these years. I'm sorry I have more pride in my hometown team and set higher expectations. I don't have a loser mentality that allows me to accept losers losing and expecting people to cheer for them to make millions of dollars to play a game and lose.

If that makes you a better man than I, then wear that badge with honour.

You deserve it.

You tell 'em, Howard!

 

[ToneDog]

Agreed.

However, since he was hired as GM how many other GM's have won the Cup?

I believe 3 but that won't have any bearing. Ask Hextall.

 

[Antropovsky]

Pittsburgh rumours going wild.

Announce his extension today please

Rumor has it that Dubas has hired Darren Ferris to represent him.

 

[Ciao]

I'm sorry, but by your own admission, Shanahan must be stupid then. Because he did promise a cup:

SIMMONS: At his lowest point, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan still promises the Stanley Cup

Brendan Shanahan came to Toronto to bring the Stanley Cup to his home town.

torontosun.com

Finishing fourth place in the league also doesn't make a contender. Not when they go out first round every year. A contender actually, you know, wins something.

Which this team hasn't.

What do I want?

What I want is simple. I want what the fans were promised: a contending team. Or I want accountability.

Someone needs to be held accountable for all the annual first round losses to inferior opponents.

I'm glad your happy supporting a losing team for all these years. I'm sorry I have more pride in my hometown team and set higher expectations. I don't have a loser mentality that allows me to accept losers losing and expecting people to cheer for them to make millions of dollars to play a game and lose.

If that makes you a better man than I, then wear that badge with honour.

You deserve it.

Mmmm. You would take pride in a bunch of professional athletes winning a championship because you happen to follow them, or play in the city you live in or some such thing? Man, that's like huge catharsis. It's a little bit weird.

I've enjoyed seeing the Blue Jays, Raptors and Argos all win championships, but it's not something that makes me puff my chest out and think "I am so proud of what I did! I cheered for a winning team!"

Mind you, if they lose there's no shame in that either.

It's just entertainment, that's all.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

By “all” I assume you mean 2, one of which came in a 5 game series after a layoff longer than a normal offseason?

Columbus, Montreal, and Tampa all finished below the Leafs and the Leafs lost to them in the first round. That's three teams. Tampa also finished below the Leafs this year.

So if the Leafs lose to Tampa again this year that will be, wait for it, four teams in the five years that Dubas has been GM the Leafs lost to that finished below them in the standings.

I don't know why anyone would think Dubas would be coming back next year if they flop again.

Why anyone would even want him back is beyond me.

 

[ULF_55]

How many GM's of supposed contenders have a whopping 0 playoff series wins to their names? Heck, how many have even 1 or fewer? I'm guessing not many.

And then how many of those guys would be brought back for a 5th season after 4 years of playoff failure?

If Pittsburgh/Fenway is dumb enough to want Dubas, go for it. I just hope it's MLSE making that decision for Dubas.

I believe 3 but that won't have any bearing. Ask Hextall.

So the rest have failed.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Mmmm. You would take pride in a bunch of professional athletes winning a championship because you happen to follow them, or play in the city you live in or some such thing? Man, that's like huge catharsis. It's a little bit weird.

I've enjoyed seeing the Blue Jays, Raptors and Argos all win championships, but it's not something that makes me puff my chest out and think "I am so proud of what I did! I cheered for a winning team!"

Mind you, if they lose there's no shame in that either.

It's just entertainment, that's all.

Do you feel the same way when you watch the Olympics or World Juniors?

Or is it just your hometown team you don't have pride in?

The name of my favourite team is the TORONTO Maple Leafs, and I take great pride in seeing them successful.

That means winning.

If I just wanted to be entertained and not care about the outcome I would watch wrestling.

 

[Brobust]

Did people completely miss the last long form blueprint or whatever it's called?

Dubas was literally talking about the draft and preparing for the offseason post TDL.

He's not going anywhere.

 

[Mess]

Agreed.

However, since he was hired as GM how many other GM's have won the Cup?

Won a Cup, how about won a single playoff round as a measuring stick?

In 2017-18 the Leafs finished with 49 wins 105 points and were 6th overall team in the NHL standings, heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

They hire Dubas as GM and 5 years later ..

In 2022-23 the Leafs finished with 50 wins 111 points and are the 4th overall team in the NHL standings heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

Global warming has seen Glacial Ice Caps in the Arctic melt at higher rates of progress.

Dubas playoff record is 11 wins and 15 losses = .423 winning %. Brutal !!!! ..

In all seriousness, unless Dubas finally delivers this year to save his job, why is Leaf Nation so afraid of change?

 

[JKG33]

So the rest have failed.

I mean more or less, but most of them have at least shown progress.

Dubas? His trajectory is as flat as manitoba-saskatchewan

 

[ULF_55]

I mean more or less, but most of them have at least shown progress.

Dubas? His trajectory is as flat as manitoba-saskatchewan

Winning.
Let's not change the goal.

 

[JKG33]

Winning.
Let's not change the goal.

Trust me, I'm the last one about to do that

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Columbus, Montreal, and Tampa all finished below the Leafs and the Leafs lost to them in the first round. That's three teams. Tampa also finished below the Leafs this year.

So if the Leafs lose to Tampa again this year that will be, wait for it, four teams in the five years that Dubas has been GM the Leafs lost to that finished below them in the standings.

I don't know why anyone would think Dubas would be coming back next year if they flop again.

Why anyone would even want him back is beyond me.

So you saw Toronto as favoured versus Tampa? As with your chosen allocation of dollars, that seems like a you problem.

Won a Cup, how about won a single playoff round as a measuring stick?

In 2017-18 the Leafs finished with 49 wins 105 points and were 6th overall team in the NHL standings, heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

They hire Dubas as GM and 5 years later ..

In 2022-23 the Leafs finished with 50 wins 111 points and are the 4th overall team in the NHL standings heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

Global warming has seen Glacial Ice Caps in the Arctic melt at higher rates of progress.

Dubas playoff record is 11 wins and 15 losses = .423 winning %. Brutal !!!! ..

In all seriousness, unless Dubas finally delivers this year to save his job, why is Leaf Nation so afraid of change?

We’re playing the kids and letting them learn.

 

[Ciao]

Do you feel the same way when you watch the Olympics or World Juniors?

Or is it just your hometown team you don't have pride in?

The name of my favourite team is the TORONTO Maple Leafs, and I take great pride in seeing them successful.

That means winning.

If I just wanted to be entertained and not care about the outcome I would watch wrestling.

The Olympians and world juniors pretty much come from Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't actually come from Toronto. They're from Arizona, Sweden, Russia, and a few guys from the GTA.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The Olympians and world juniors pretty much come from Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs don't actually come from Toronto. They're from Arizona, Sweden, Russia, and a few guys from the GTA.

Oh, I see.

So you are only concerned about the names on the backs? And what the individuals can achieve? And only if they are from Canada?

The logo on the front doesn't mean anything.

I think I got it now.

I'm sorry, I just don't feel the same way. To me the logo on the front is more important. The parts make up the whole.

I cheer for the team.

I don't care where the players come from that play on it.

 

[6ix]

The main issue if the leafs move on, is he’s learned a lot from previous mistakes with experience over the years. So now another team would be getting a “seasoned” Dubas rather than “rookie” Dubas. So they’re getting the best version of him. He’s not perfect but no GM bats 100, and I’ve liked most of his moves the last couple seasons.

I’ve always been in the belief if there is a CLEAR upgrade available then you can move on, but if not then stay the course. Grass isn’t always greener.

 

[Bomber0104]

We’re playing the kids and letting them learn.

Since when are "kids" 25/26 year old players, making 10+ million contracts?

Or just a bad joke on your part that's fallen completely flat on its face, missed the mark, etc.

Because that's what it's been thus far with the Leafs...

Hope you realize that.

 

[Gabriel426]

Before this year TDL, if they fail again in playoffs(at least reaching ECF) I do think the team needs a shape up, simply bc the core been around for 5 years(as JT came 5 yrs ago) and still haven’t won anything. Also I don’t trust Dubas in trading away a core piece for a core piece and the way he built his team.
Since the TDL, I have faith in Dubas in building a team, maybe listening to Spezza’s advice or maybe he realized he should stick with a more traditional approach to team building then trying to outsmart everyone else.
I also have faith in him making good decisions.

If the boys can’t do it this year and out again in the first round. I won’t blame Dubas bc I don’t think he can do anything more. It is on the players and Keefe.
Players esp the top guys need to know that they need to dominate when they are on the ice and needs to be the best player every shift.
If Keefe continues to play it safe or do the I will throw everything at the wall and hope it sticks or getting respect from handshake crap. That’s on him.

What I did find the past 15 games or so is that even if ROR didn’t get injured, Keefe will still play 11/7 and see the limits he can push his top forwards and how his Dcorps can adjust with different partners with less ice time.

Really think this is the year that will be different and set the foundation for the next few years

 

[Rude Dog]

Big mistake if they let Dubas walk. He is just starting to hit his stride as a GM. Great human being as well. Not many of them left on this planet

 

[Racer88]

Won a Cup, how about won a single playoff round as a measuring stick?

In 2017-18 the Leafs finished with 49 wins 105 points and were 6th overall team in the NHL standings, heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

They hire Dubas as GM and 5 years later ..

In 2022-23 the Leafs finished with 50 wins 111 points and are the 4th overall team in the NHL standings heading into round #1 of the playoffs.

Global warming has seen Glacial Ice Caps in the Arctic melt at higher rates of progress.

Dubas playoff record is 11 wins and 15 losses = .423 winning %. Brutal !!!! ..

In all seriousness, unless Dubas finally delivers this year to save his job, why is Leaf Nation so afraid of change?

This is so true. We keep hearing about how much better he has made them yet the results stay the same
in fact we have 10 less points then last year

 

[Dekes For Days]

in fact we have 10 less points then last year

We have 4 less points than last year, not 10.