Kyle Dubas discussion

[Legion34]

the Islanders did it 2 years in a row though. Two years in a row they were 1 win away from the Stanley Cup Finals. It's not luck when it keeps happening and it's pretty obvious their gm understands what works in the playoffs. If Dubas accomplished that would it be nothing but luck? Nothing worth praising him for?

Did their gm understand what makes the playoffs the 2 years he was here?

Did he forget this year?

People have called hockey the worlds most elaborate Coin flip. It’s not that bad. But there is a massive luck component. Like I said. They literally had a goalie kick the puck in to win. And rask couldn’t move.

Those are huge advantages the gm had nothing to do with.

If the leafs played tampa and vasi gets hurt. That’s got nothing to do with the gm.

Just like Montreal’s Gm was a donkey then a genius then a donkey.

There is more luck to the playoffs then people want to admit. People can’t process it so they just assume everything that a team winning made the right calls and losing made the wrong call.

 

[Nylanderthal]

I'd say that you would have to go one step back to Tim Leiweke as the start or whoever hired him. After he took over, all 3 franchises made huge strides in direction and competitiveness - Masai, Shanahan, toronto FC.

Leiweke deserves a ton of credit for bringing in Masai, Shanny & Bezbechenko (TFC) the leadership of those 3 helped turn each franchise around from perennial sad sack to model organization

 

[IPS]

How long have you watched hockey? It has always been mostly luck and goaltending. There was a skit on TSN where the “insiders” got beat in predictions of series by a literal monkey.

The blues won the cup with a 5th string goalie who played for the bruins team because he was so bad they didn’t have room in their own system.

The pens rode a rookie back to back who can’t stop a beachball in ottawa.

The caps were a post away from going down 3-0 in a series.

Hockey is mostly luck and goaltending. Any team can go on streaks. Injuries bounces and goalie streaks have always been a part of it.

This isn’t new

If goaltending is such a large part of the equation how come the current management team spends so little of the cap on it? And why is our SV% very below average since Dubas took over as GM? For being such a gargatuan part of playoff success, they sure don't take it that serious.

And as far as luck goes - 4 teams have won 9/12 of the last Stanely Cups, call me crazy but there just might be something of a consistent formula going on there.

 

[ShaneFalco]

If goaltending is such a large part of the equation how come the current management team spends so little of the cap on it? And why is our SV% very below average since Dubas took over as GM? For being such a gargatuan part of playoff success, they sure don't take it that serious.

And as far as luck goes - 4 teams have won 9/12 of the last Stanely Cups, call me crazy but there just might be something of a consistent formula going on there.

Leafs lose
- goalied
- expected wins/goals
-injuries
- bad luck
- deserved to win



If they ever win a round:
- totally deserve it, no luck involved, Leafs are the better team

 

[AvroArrow]

Leafs lose
- goalied
- expected wins/goals
-injuries
- bad luck
- deserved to win



If they ever win a round:
- totally deserve it, no luck involved, Leafs are the better team

Depends entirely how the series goes. If they get out shot badly, out possessed badly and out chanced badly but somehow win the series then yes definitely a lot of luck. If they out play the other team, out chance and out possess them, then no it's very little luck.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Leafs lose
- goalied
- expected wins/goals
-injuries
- bad luck
- deserved to win



If they ever win a round:
- totally deserve it, no luck involved, Leafs are the better team

Maybe in some cases, but that is not a template. Most often when a team loses they were not good enough. Yes, even the Leafs.

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

Kyle and Lou seen having a conversation in the background of the Sakic interview. Looks like they're still on good terms.

 

[zeke]

If goaltending is such a large part of the equation how come the current management team spends so little of the cap on it?

Because spending money on goalies is a fool's game. All the money spent out there and there's still only a handful of reliable goalies...and even those guys can and have flopped at times.

And why is our SV% very below average since Dubas took over as GM?

Mostly because the starting goalie he inherited imploded.

 

[IPS]

Because spending money on goalies is a fool's game. All the money spent out there and there's still only a handful of reliable goalies...and even those guys can and have flopped at times.



Mostly because the starting goalie he inherited imploded.

A "fool's game" is a pretty good way to put it but it sure is nice when you do have a Rask or Vasilevsky come playoff time. Hell Price nullified almost all of our $44M offense last year..

 

[zeke]

A "fool's game" is a pretty good way to put it but it sure is nice when you do have a Rask or Vasilevsky come playoff time. Hell Price nullified almost all of our $44M offense last year..

Even then though, here's how Rask has done in all the series the Bruins lost:

21: .897
20: .904
19: .912
18: .907

 

[ShaneFalco]

A "fool's game" is a pretty good way to put it but it sure is nice when you do have a Rask or Vasilevsky come playoff time. Hell Price nullified almost all of our $44M offense last year..

It's a fools game until Dubas does it, then its ingenious

 

[Menzinger]

If goaltending is such a large part of the equation how come the current management team spends so little of the cap on it? And why is our SV% very below average since Dubas took over as GM? For being such a gargatuan part of playoff success, they sure don't take it that serious.

And as far as luck goes - 4 teams have won 9/12 of the last Stanely Cups, call me crazy but there just might be something of a consistent formula going on there.

Part of the issue here is outside of a couple guys in the league, the top goaltenders fluctuates quite a bit. It's fairly common a guy comes out of nowhere, has an amazing season and then flops the next year the position is voodoo.

 

[Leaf Fans]

It's a fools game until Dubas does it, then its ingenious

Come on now. Dubas is not perfect. Granted, he has been good.

 

[zeke]

It's a fools game until Dubas does it, then its ingenious

Dubas won't do it. Cuz he's no fool.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Come on now. Dubas is not perfect. Granted, he has been good.

It's a results business. He's done good things, he's done bad things - ultimately this year will be the deciding year. Carry on with his vision or try someone else's

 

[cookie]

From what I've seen, Dubas seems to be a savvy GM that values his players, only for things beyond his control to bite him in the backside. No one expects an established goalie to implode ala Mrazek this year, or for a rash of untimely injuries like Muzzin's (or Tavares in the playoffs last year), or for that matter, half the defense corps hitting the IR just before the start of the playoffs. Sure the organization is cursed, but it shouldn't be this conspicuous. Hell, I'd say signing Mrazek for 3 years was a good hedge against the unpredictable nature of NHL goaltending. Maybe Mrazek's better next year or the year after that? Man's had multiple .920+ seasons before and his high-danger save percentage in the 12 games he played last year was near the top of the league. It's gotta even out, right? Who knows...

 

[Tak7]

From what I've seen, Dubas seems to be a savvy GM that values his players, only for things beyond his control to bite him in the backside. No one expects an established goalie to implode ala Mrazek this year, or for a rash of untimely injuries like Muzzin's (or Tavares in the playoffs last year), or for that matter, half the defense corps hitting the IR just before the start of the playoffs. Sure the organization is cursed, but it shouldn't be this conspicuous. Hell, I'd say signing Mrazek for 3 years was a good hedge against the unpredictable nature of NHL goaltending. Maybe Mrazek's better next year or the year after that? Man's had multiple .920+ seasons before and his high-danger save percentage in the 12 games he played last year was near the top of the league. It's gotta even out, right? Who knows...

He values people and relationships, which is such an underrated part of Dubas' approach that doesn't get enough credit here. Sure he's going to look after his own guys, but look at the number of guys that Dubas has done right by when things haven't worked out here - including Ritchie, Dermott, Lehtonen, Barabonov, etc. Even with someone like Muzzin, he said right away that he had no interest in LTIRing the player, saying it was unfair on the player & that he wanted Jake to come back and find his feet / confidence.

I disagreed with that, but you can't doubt that it's right on brand with Dubas.

They might seem like simple moves, but they go a long way to attracting and convincing other guys/agents to come here. I think that's why he ends up being able to drag a lot of players here for bargain bin contracts. Those relationships matter, and it goes a long way.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Kyle and Lou seen having a conversation in the background of the Sakic interview. Looks like they're still on good terms.

Saw that, and while it's really minor I think it's important to show these two getting along cordially. I feel like there's this idea that the two men don't like each other but I doubt that's the case.

 

[deprw]

Assistant to Sakic...

"We lack playoff success"

Don't understand the Sakic love.

He's lucked out on the development of players relative to contracts, would have loved some of our guys to break out after signing their contracts, and he still has only ever reached the second round.

Well I think adding new GM would be way for Sakic to get longer leash. They have been stagnated for few seasons. I'm not saying that this would happen, but that might be the scenario if we don't extend Dubas. He will find job in the NHL, easily.

 

[deprw]

Kyle and Lou seen having a conversation in the background of the Sakic interview. Looks like they're still on good terms.

That shouldn't be surprise. I think there is mutual respect, but with Lou that doesn't mean any favors regarding trades or players.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Perhaps fitting versus Lou, Kyle sets the club record for wins and points. 2 more wins sets the record for winning percentage.

Note doesn't factor in changes like ties, OT rules etc.

 

[IPS]

RIP LOU'S LEGENDARY 105 POINT FRANCHISE RECORD

 

[The Podium]

Perhaps fitting versus Lou, Kyle sets the club record for wins and points. 2 more wins sets the record for winning percentage.

Note doesn't factor in changes like ties, OT rules etc.

I think they are 2 W off of the Maple Leafs all time regulation win leader

 

[The Podium]

RIP LOU'S LEGENDARY 105 POINT FRANCHISE RECORD

I’m so happy that “this team has regressed since he’s been here” argument can be put to rest

 

[IPS]

I’m so happy that “this team has regressed since he’s been here” argument can be put to rest

Not sure what's more pathetic people thinking Lou's shootout inflated 105 point season was better than last year's Leafs or people who think the Leafs would still be better coached by Babcock then Keefe.