Yup, it's 100% his team. I just can't point to anything he's done that's really bad and I think his decisions have been mostly smart ones so I'd be fine with keeping him. But I'd be fine with a fresh start with a new GM as well, I just obviously hope that we choose the next guy wisely.
I agree. My point has always been when is the moment you(ownership) realize this team(MGT and Players) just could not do it collectively. Cant keep running back hoping for different results.
Fletcher and Quinn got their teams to the conference finals twice each between 1993-2002 and they won 10 playoff rounds during that time. It’s not been 50 years since the team had success in the playoffs. It’s been since the introduction of the salary cap in 2005 which leveled the playing field that their management has had no playoff success in building a playoff contender.
That’s not what Dubas said publicly in answer to a question about his contract status. He said that he went to Shanahan last off season and said he wanted to discuss a new contract and Shanny told him that they wouldn’t consider it until after this season. Take it for what it’s worth but the implications seem pretty clear that they need some playoff success before they’ll extend him. I’m guessing Shanahan will be shown the door too if they flame out in the first round.
Keefe and probably a shift in direction with the makeup of the team
Everyone's gonna fire their GMs to get a hold of this guy. We'll see teams tanking left, right and centre. Haha
When is the moment - that's the million dollar question. I would have considered making a major move or two after losing to MTL myself, they played really well last year though so there's an argument to be made that not doing so wasn't wrong. Hard to see this going on for much longer though, change for the sake of change is rarely a good idea but when all else fails, change is the only thing left to do. But then the next question is - what is it that should be changed?
That's not much to show for almost 50 years, not much at all.
Yeah I don't see Dubas voluntarily leaving either for those exact reasons. I'd like to think he's capable of replacing Keefe and making some big roster moves but I wonder if he's capable of doing that. If there's one concern I have with Dubas, it's that he maybe takes loyalty too far. Loyalty is a good thing in general, but too much of a good thing can also spell doom.
There's only so many GM vacancies at any given moment in time. But given time, as vacancies appear I'm sure there would be many teams that would have him on their short list of candidates. And lesser positions, I don't think there's any question that there would absolutely be teams lining up to hire him.
I don't know if you can make the same comparison, but what you said reminded me of when Alex Anthopoulos left the Blue Jays after they made the ALCS in 2015, even though he was offered a new contract to remain their General Manager.
Since the Leafs fired John Fergueson Jr as their General Manager he has since worked for the Sharks, Bruins, and today he's the Assistant General Manager with the Coyotes.
No matter how the team looks or finishes the regular season, I can't see ownership being ok with giving Dubas a new deal and would likely clean house.
I don't think it's a good comparison. Toronto is arguably the capital of the hockey universe, win the cup in Toronto after so many years of misery and you're immortal. You could win consecutive World Series in Toronto and that wouldn't be nearly as big a thing in this town.
Many people think he's been a good GM.
I think so too. I know some people say that ownership only cares about making money, I don't think that's true though. They lost a fair bit of money by replacing Babcock alone, and who doesn't want to win?
The leafs hired a great goalie coach in Sanford. Sammy had high pedigree before coming here and a high end skill set that needed fine tuning. He wasn't willing to do it before coming here. Being released from the team that drafted him from a qualifying offer that wasn't even high in the first place, was probably the kick in the ass he needed.
Even though Anthopoulos is not from Toronto and is from Montreal, he was still a Canadian GM of the Blue Jays and I remember a lot of fans were upset when he left.
JFJ Was responsible for making the Rask for Raycroft trade. Say what you want about the bad moves Dubas has done like trading a 1st round pick for Nick Foligno, none will ever come as close to that.
I think this summer if they failed to advanced to Cup Finals(my opinion) but more like Conf Finals, should be it for the current Leafs era, calls it Shannyera, Dubasera…., it doesn’t matter bc it fails BIG time since it is by far the most talented Leafs assembled.
He will.
