Confirmed with Link: Spezza tenders resignation - Update 6/14 Named Penguins AGM

[francis246]

I'd simply be curious to understand when Dubas had the Pittsburgh interest/offer to use as leverage? I wouldn't expect either of Shanahan or Dubas to discuss the matter further as neither good nor reason could possibly come out of doing so with both sides having since moved on and forward.

I read or heard he was at that MIT conference with the owners last year. I think that’s where it all started. I think Shanny kind of made his bed with Dubas the moment the extension wasn’t given last year and he let him go into the season as a lame duck.

To me blaming Dubas for doing what’s best for himself is stupid. This all could have been avoided if they just extended him last year. Shanny could have still came to the realization he needed to move on from Dubas, but at least there’d be no drama. Shanny and the board put themselves in this situation by not extending thus leaving the door open for Dubas to think about what life outside of the Maple Leafs would look like.

 

[Burnie97]

This is sports. I don’t think many in NHL circles view his move to Pittsburgh as a loss in credibility. Why? Most of the GM’s themselves have colluded or done back door deals to get their guys in management or sign free agents. I don’t know why people are so mad he did what he did. Half of you couldn’t wait for him to be gone anyways lol!

Dubas isn’t the first guy to do something like this. Toronto has been the beneficiary of management moves like this in the past too. Brian Burke did something very similar to Anaheim in order to come to Toronto.

I'm not mad at all. Did I seem mad?

I just said he has no credibility. Not to me anymore. I'm talking about Dubas.

He can do whatever he likes. I just wouldn't look at him as trustworthy ever. It may be cut throat and that's fine. It's one reason I'd never work in a corporate world. It can get slimey.

He may go on to do great things... who knows but he said one thing and did another. Then hired Spezza. Which was always going to happen. Pretty obvious.

Just stating what it looks like. Not shocked.

I'm looking forward to seeing what our new GM can do.

 

[GoonieFace]

If this was the Board's decision to not extend Dubas, driving Dubas to seek employment elsewhere may have always been the plan. There's this assumption that everyone likes Kyle Dubas. I'm going offer up the idea that there are some people who really don't like the guy and some of them may be in high places.

Well whatever happened, the Leafs were lucky to get rid of him. If only we all could be so fortunate to utterly fail at something and get promoted for it

 

[francis246]

I'm not mad at all. Did I seem mad?

I just said he has no credibility. Not to me anymore. I'm talking about Dubas.

He can do whatever he likes. I just wouldn't look at him as trustworthy ever. It may be cut throat and that's fine. It's one reason I'd never work in a corporate world. It can get slimey.

He may go on to do great things... who knows but he said one thing and did another. Then hired Spezza. Which was always going to happen. Pretty obvious.

Just stating what it looks like. Not shocked.

I'm looking forward to seeing what our new GM can do.

I may have interpreted it as mad/upset. My apologies.

 

[Metroid]

Spezza picked sides early in the Dubas vs Shanny clash. So probably not surprising this happens.

Bit of a pity the Spezza in Toronto storyline ended this way

He will be back after learning on the job and making mistakes with another team :-P

 

[TakeTheBody]

Dubas did his best work this season. This was the best team the Leafs have sent to the playoffs in many years. Then things got weird. We beat Tampa and in my eyes didn't really play that well. I thought we played better against Tampa last season. But " the best goalie in world " didn't show up for Tampa. However against Florida BOB was suddenly the best goalie in the world. That was the main reason we lost to the Panthers. I do believe Keefe didn't do much to help in Round 2 though. The off season will be interesting. I have no problem trading a core piece if it improves the team. I'm not blowing it up.

 

[3blizzard4]

Loved him as a player.

Dont know squat about his AGM abilities whether it was here or now in Pitts.

 

[LeafSteel]

Wow the Leafs lost a tonne of management experience

Lol.

Well played.

 

[Buds17]

I read or heard he was at that MIT conference with the owners last year. I think that’s where it all started. I think Shanny kind of made his bed with Dubas the moment the extension wasn’t given last year and he let him go into the season as a lame duck.

To me blaming Dubas for doing what’s best for himself is stupid. This all could have been avoided if they just extended him last year. Shanny could have still came to the realization he needed to move on from Dubas, but at least there’d be no drama. Shanny and the board put themselves in this situation by not extending thus leaving the door open for Dubas to think about what life outside of the Maple Leafs would look like.

I think Shanahan puts his own job at greater risk if he looks to fire the GM he just recently renewed (even the wealthiest of ownership shouldn't be very happy about spending money foolishly/having to throw good money after bad).

For his own part, does Dubas really look to extend his Leaf contract as GM once he has begun to have any sort of relations/discussions with FSG's ownership (about something potentially greater)?

 

[ULF_55]

If this was the Board's decision to not extend Dubas, driving Dubas to seek employment elsewhere may have always been the plan. There's this assumption that everyone likes Kyle Dubas. I'm going to offer up the idea that there are some people who really don't like the guy and some of them may be in high places.

If everyone liked him that might be a bigger concern.
You can't please everyone, and if you try it would likely be worse.

 

[francis246]

I think Shanahan puts his own job at greater risk if he looks to fire the GM he just recently renewed (even the wealthiest of ownership shouldn't be very happy about spending money foolishly/having to throw good money after bad).

For his own part, does Dubas really look to extend his Leaf contract as GM once he has begun to have any sort of relations/discussions with FSG's ownership (about something potentially greater)?

Only Kyle knows the answer to that. Personally I think Kyle initially was probably using Pittsburgh to leverage himself in the Toronto negotiation. Even Shanahan admits Kyle tells him he’s ready to come back. So I truly believe Kyle wanted to stay but he wanted the decision making aspect. So maybe a VP of Hockey Ops role attached. Kind of an FU back to the Leafs for not extending him. Then things seemed to unravel. I don’t know what’s more sad, Shanny thinking Kyle wouldn’t explore his options or Kyle thinking Shanny wouldn’t consider firing him. End of an era both get what they want in the end I guess?

 

[DarkKnight]

Man this new GM will be the most toothless suit in the NHL, why even bother Dubie? Who cares about Spezza, he did nothing here except watch Dubas have fits in the press box.

 

[KMNRB]

Shanahan liked the work Dubas had done as GM. Dubas then "apparently" proceeded to ask for the autonomy and pay consistent with a POHO "behind the scenes" while mentioning he was unsure about remaining as Leaf GM during a live presser. I'd say that Shanahan fired Dubas to protect/retain his own job and Dubas wasn't returning to the Leafs for anything less than what he currently has with Pittsburgh.

And we have learnt how those in support of Dubas like to make up bullshits to improve his image, like the line about "streamlining the hockey operation." Who in the right mind would put "streamlining the hockey operation" in a contract talk? The only possible meaning is to ask for a promotion (if not in title, at least in holding final say of all hockey-related decisions).

And the fuss about family pressure? I think it turns out that he was pondering about the pressure of relocation and play act this half-truth into pressure as a Leaf GM, which is such bullshit because who doesn't know about the pressure of a Leaf GM when taking on the job?

I'd have no problem with Dubas if he just let his contract expire and take another team's job. But his attempt to trick everyone into thinking that he was forced out of his job is just obscene to me. And I think he didn't thank Toronto Maple Leafs because Shanahan/MLSE decided to expose him as the schemer and liar he really is.

 

[Sypher04]

Feels to me like we might have a tampering case on our hands with Dubas

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I just assumed this move was a given.
Once Dubas landed the job he truly wanted it seemed obvious he would bring in his people. Zero loss for us but a nice deal for a former player who, while limited by declining skills, gave us every bit of what little he had left.
Good for him.

 

[TOGuy14]

Man this new GM will be the most toothless suit in the NHL, why even bother Dubie? Who cares about Spezza, he did nothing here except watch Dubas have fits in the press box.

Seems highly likely that Pridham will be the guy if Spezza was given an AGM title....

 

[fahad203]

How do you name an AGM without having a GM?

4D chess move again by Dubas
Always ahead of the trend

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Dubas was put on the clock when he wasn't extended going into the season.

At that point he was told prepare to be let go.

If you're a contractor and told you may or may not be extended you're going to be proactive.

Let's add another layer to the contractor metaphor. The contractor has not performed well up to this point.

 

[KMNRB]

Well whatever happened, the Leafs were lucky to get rid of him. If only we all could be so fortunate to utterly fail at something and get promoted for it

Based on his "benchmarking contract" according to Elliotte Friedman (not the rumored 7 x 7m but maybe close to that), we now know where all the benchmarking contracts of our stars came from, and it's unlikely things have changed with Dubas. That's just the way he sees life: the stars deserve as much money as possible whereas replaceable workers should get minimum wage. And the imbalanced salaries with our roster would have lasted until he leaves.

 

[Buds17]

And we have learnt how those in support of Dubas like to make up bullshits to improve his image, like the line about "streamlining the hockey operation." Who in the right mind would put "streamlining the hockey operation" in a contract talk? The only possible meaning is to ask for a promotion (if not in title, at least in holding final say of all hockey-related decisions).

And the fuss about family pressure? I think it turns out that he was pondering about the pressure of relocation and play act this half-truth into pressure as a Leaf GM, which is such bullshit because who doesn't know about the pressure of a Leaf GM when taking on the job?

I'd have no problem with Dubas if he just let his contract expire and take another team's job. But his attempt to trick everyone into thinking that he was forced out of his job is just obscene to me. And I think he didn't thank Toronto Maple Leafs because Shanahan/MLSE decided to expose him as the schemer and liar he really is.

There's definitely something to be said for the manner in which this all went down and I'm one of those who prefers to have the hockey storylines occur on the ice!

 

[DarkKnight]

Seems highly likely that Pridham will be the guy if Spezza was given an AGM title....

Why, Shanny hired Pridham? I‘m sure the Dube would love to get Pridham, but I fail to see how it’s an upgrade there. I don’t think Pridham is going anywhere, Treliving and him have a long relationship as well, there is zero tension here. Besides, Pitt is a mess imo. Enjoy golden boy!

 

[Cleetus]

Wow the Leafs lost a tonne of management experience

Spezza: what do you want in your Coffee Mr.Dubas? would you like a Scone also?

 

[KMNRB]

Loved him as a player.

Dont know squat about his AGM abilities whether it was here or now in Pitts.

The fact that Dubas hires Spezza as his first GM/AGM in Pittsburgh just shows how favouritism is once again at work with Dubas, not unlike how the Sault Ste Marie connection unfolded in Toronto.

Based on the Toronto Media it would appear that Pridham does not want to leave his Toronto job. But I won't be surprised if others in the front office (Wickenheiser, Hardy, Metcalf, Wes Clark) will be chosen as the GM of the Penguins. Making a splash with the first female (lameduck) GM seems to fit his way of doing things.

 

[Zero1]

Nice guy and happy for him but this is not a big loss for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

[ACC1224]

The fact that Dubas hires Spezza as his first GM/AGM in Pittsburgh just shows how favouritism is once again at work with Dubas, not unlike how the Sault Ste Marie connection unfolded in Toronto.

Based on the Toronto Media it would appear that Pridham does not want to leave his Toronto job. But I won't be surprised if others in the front office (Wickenheiser, Hardy, Metcalf, Wes Clark) will be chosen as the GM of the Penguins. Making a splash with the first female (lameduck) GM seems to fit his way of doing things.

At this point is there anyone left who doesn't think the Team is now better off with Dubas gone?