Confirmed with Link: Kyle Dubas Not Returning

[57 Years No Cup]

Nope, but he made the front office, coaching staff, and the players loyal to him and people all over twitter saying they're furious. You think guys like Matthews, Rielly, Tavares, and Nylander who are all known to have very strong relationships with Dubas (and Spezza) are going to just take this?

What's to stop them from demanding trades? Whats to stop high ranking members of the FO from resigning with Spezza? The more that comes out the more the organization has clearly botched the whole process.

OH NO! A bunch of fired Millennials are upset on social media! Whatever shall we do!

 

[Enniskillen]

Lol, dubasites are shaken. Leafs culture is rotten, and it started with Dubas. The most amazing thing is he used the same tactics the core used to wiggle out more money. ROR not wanting to stay is quite telling. Too much entitlement in the locker room and lack of desire to grind. Maybe the regular season results will suffer but it won’t be so predictable to the point when we say “it’s nothing, let’s wait till playoffs”. No let’s get rid of another s.hmuck, I mean Marner, our superstar. I want a team of hard working guys standing up for each other, not skillful divas wilting under pressure.

 

[Just Rude]

We need a GM and coach who puts boots to asses.

 

[Ciao]

They were at the 2 yard line and Dubas asks for more money. I just glad Shanny punted him.

Yeah, I agree. You can't pull that kind of stunt.

If there really were a money issue, don't leave it until the five days after the last minute.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Man...the GM that's gonna be walking into this is going to have a massive storm to course through.

 

[Morgs]

I think we should wait and see who the replacement is and go from there. If it's someone shitty I'll be right there with you, but there's a real opportunity for getting better here too

I'm relatively indifferent about Dubas not extending. My issue is how badly the organization botched it to the point we're hearing the goodwill is gone, guys like Spezza resigned, and the people loyal to Dubas are PISSED. Who's loyal to Dubas? Matthews, Rielly, Nylander, Tavares, etc, etc. Seems insane to do this when two of those guys need new contracts in a couple months or they'll be traded too.

 

[Petrus]

My reading of it is Shanny severely misjudged how unsettled Dubas' likely was about a few things - family stuff, lack of extension in place maybe ect. Dubas probably more upset than anticipated hence the blow up at the initial media presser.

The fact that Shanny has been physically distant for much of the season (he lives in NYC) probably helped cloud the relationship

Shanny can only go by Dubas’s word.

If for any reason Dubas has any hint of hesitation he has an obligation to share that to Shanny. Shanny is the guy that gave him the job. Dubas at the very least should be honest about his intentions.

It seems Shanny was blindsided by the Dubas presser and the subsequent renegotiation of the terms of his new contract.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

"What are you going to do, Bleed on me?"

IT'S JUST A FLESH WOUND!

 

[Stephen]

But that's a thing that happens, you don't even have to leave the sport to find examples. Like my old man only moved to the States when his boss offered enough to get my mom on board. It's pretty mundane yeah?

But I'm not going to get into an argument with you, I respect your opinion.

That is a perfect example of what should have happened. But the communication was probably in private between he and his boss, with concerns, compensation, details ironed out without dirty laundry being aired.

 

[ToneDog]

wow if they don't want to here because they don't have a GM will say how much they "care" after every exit - buh bye

All this time, Kyle was the reason players wanted to come home.

 

[notdoneyet]

I think the board was pissed we lost again. They were probably told this is our year and with what transpired they finally said enough is enough. I think they told shanahan that someone had to go. Keefe plus split up the core between mitch and willy.

Shanahan told kyle about what he had to do and he said no. Thats why he wanted to negotiate for more control of the team.

New gm will fire keefe and trade one of willy or mitch.

 

[ToneDog]

Man...the GM that's gonna be walking into this is going to have a massive storm to course through.

Let's hope he can handle the pressure. LOL.

 

[myleafs]

Is there anything to suggest we are getting a new approach? Again, they were perfectly happy to bring Dubas back until Monday and it fell apart over money. In terms of the hockey process this feels as much like a re-affirmation of the status quo as anything.

This is all to be determined. Im hopeful for a different approach and Im fearful of the status quo but for now Im gonna lean into the different approach until shown otherwise.

 

[Stephen]

Shanny can only go by Dubas’s word.

If for any reason Dubas has any hint of hesitation he has an obligation to share that to Shanny. Shanny is the guy that gave him the job. Dubas at the very least should be honest about his intentions.

It seems Shanny was blindsided by the Dubas presser and the subsequent renegotiation of the terms of his new contract.

If this was good faith, why didn't Dubas just ask for more money before going in front of cameras, and talking to his wife to make sure the family was happy to keep on keeping on? That could have been ironed out before any official statement, keeping the integrity of the brand, front office, projecting stability and normalcy.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

I'm relatively indifferent about Dubas not extending. My issue is how badly the organization botched it to the point we're hearing the goodwill is gone, guys like Spezza resigned, and the people loyal to Dubas are PISSED. Who's loyal to Dubas? Matthews, Rielly, Nylander, Tavares, etc, etc. Seems insane to do this when two of those guys need new contracts in a couple months or they'll be traded too.

I get where you are coming from but I don't think we should be worried YET unless we sign someone like JFJ or Bergevin...then I'll join you hoping for the best while we deal with this fiesta

 

[Pink Mist]

Shanahan should be fired. His power trip is about to impload the team

 

[RoadWarrior]

I dont understand how this defaults yo an emotional decision.. it could just as easily have been emotional to tender the offer and Kyles dumbass presser was the slap in the face that woke him up

I dont get why this is default enotional or feelings.. that is lazy

Shanahan probably went f***.. what the hell did he just do, he is doing what we hate players doing.. i had him wrong

It was the Dubas presser that surprised Shanahan. Dubas totally waffled on whether he wanted to return. Shanahan immediately starts looking for a replacement…. And may have found some candidates that he thought were better than Dubas. The final straw was the bloated counter offer after just being humiliated in the playoffs.

i think Dubas may have been unduly influenced by his wife and agent who obviously misjudged the situation.

 

[SprDaVE]

This is well said.

The full tweet if people don't wanna click on the "show more"

I recognize uncertainty is in some senses scary, but I am not fully understanding the sky is falling vibes on Leafs Twitter. Shanahan, the guy who saw the potential in Kyle Dubas when he was a nobody -- who hired him, promoted him over a legendary HHOF-bound incumbent, and apparently wanted to extend him for five years as recently as a week ago -- is getting portrayed as though he now setting back the organization decades because the relationship broke down nine years into it. It is always a little disappointing to see things end ugly as they did, but is Shanahan maybe capable of making a good hire again?

And is it maybe possible that a fresh set of eyes on the roster — one without the on-the-record vows of loyalty to certain players and coaches -- could be a positive development seven years into it with this core? It strikes me as a reaction born out of a low-bar, fear-the-worst kind of mentality created by the deep scarring left over from the JFJ/Fletcher/Burke/Nonis eras. Understandable but not 100% rational.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Let's hope he can handle the pressure. LOL.

Definitely... My positive/optimistic side is thinking about how sometimes the right change can lead to championship.

My negative side is thinking another 10 years of absolutely misery with nothing to show for it

Let's hope its not that latter.

 

[MCR74]

wow if they don't want to here because they don't have a GM will say how much they "care" after every exit - buh bye

I'm waiting for Paul's take on this. Dubas is no longer around. The replacement GM might not bend over for Marner and his family.

 

[Magic Man]

It's weird I kind of lost faith in Dubas before the deadline. But, I thought he had a great deadline and I think he is a smart guy. If he could have maintained that team building style with his smarts I wonder how we would have done long term. But, he had enough time I'm excited that someone else gets a chance with this core. If we can get someone to build a Tampa/Boston style supporting cast we will benefit.

 

[BLONG7]

All of them, same with head coaches

All of them? Do you really think Lou Lamerello lets an agent negotiate for him?
I just can't see it? They would all have to have lawyers, but not agents....

 

[RoadWarrior]

Shanahan should be fired. His power trip is about to impload the team

Shanahan is on thin ice. No question about it. Part of the reason he fired Dubas was to save himself.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Just bizarre that people are spinning this as Shanahan looking like an alpha male or whatever bullshit, instead of fickle and spiteful. Shanahan said he thought Dubas did a good job and he wanted him back. Ultimately Shanahan is the one who rescinded the offer, not Dubas. You can quibble over the circumstances all you want but how many people would really like to work for a "hardass" boss who demands unquestioning loyalty? This isn't a military, it's perfectly reasonable for people to want to consider contracts carefully and negotiate terms. If the issue is Dubas talking to the press, well, that's part of his job and comparing this to a non-public-facing role is inane.

And for the record, I wasn't particularly in favour of bringing Dubas back. He gambled big on the deadline and most of his acquisitions sucked in the playoffs, so it's disappointing to hear Shanahan say the exact opposite.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I'm relatively indifferent about Dubas not extending. My issue is how badly the organization botched it to the point we're hearing the goodwill is gone, guys like Spezza resigned, and the people loyal to Dubas are PISSED. Who's loyal to Dubas? Matthews, Rielly, Nylander, Tavares, etc, etc. Seems insane to do this when two of those guys need new contracts in a couple months or they'll be traded too.

Well yeah that's fair enough. It's easy to just look at the end result of Dubas being gone, but the way we got here was not good. Being willing to give him a lengthy extension on Saturday to now not wanting to renew him based on a press conference is certainly a rash move that has the potential to backfire, as much as I understand why Shanahan did it. Unfortunately, losing leads to situations like this. Hopefully the players feel strongly committed to winning in Toronto, regardless of who the GM is and hopefully Shanahan makes a good decision about the replacement