I agree with not giving them away.
But I don't think you can change the coaching and front office and not change the core in some way. If you are changing the GM, then that GM has to find a way to maximize the value out of that core and make a change there.
Dubas has given these guys a strong supporting cast. Keefe has done everything he realistically could to get the most out of these guys and they've failed. Fans of course just care about results but in terms of the process, they've done their bit.
Not changing the core alongside the coaching and GM is just as much of, if not even more of, a hope and a prayer as running it back with the exact same group again.
I think the main thing is Dubas may choose to take a better offer elsewhere. He will probably get President + GM offers from other teams, which is better than what we can offer him unless Shanny is gone or is moved to some other role (considering he was just extended, that is likely not happening). Whether Leafs fans choose to acknowledge it or not, Dubas is a high end executive and a better GM than most guys who are generally available for teams. If Keefe were to be fired, he won't be out of NHL HC work for very long either. And the available replacements are not exactly slam dunk options either. Tons of uncertainty and question marks. But at the same time, Babcock/Lou were seen as a "slam dunks" and both were inferior to the rookies so maybe a "slam dunk" on paper is not what the Leafs need.
I also agree with getting younger and faster. Going after intangibles, leadership, and grit has returned us very little beyond having a ton of guys who haven't been able to keep up and has actually made us a lot easier to play against... And goes against the general philosophy that Dubas laid out at the beginning. I don't think he has anything against toughness or leadership or having these guys in the lineup, but I also think that sacrificing skill, speed, energy, etc. for it was not entirely his choice either. And that goes back to him possibly not wanting to be here anymore; maybe he thinks the next step for him is a place where he has complete autonomy and not having to answer to Shanny anymore, because those moves did reek of Shanny more than Dubas.
"Major surgery" is probably not needed, depending on your definition. We don't need to blow the entire core up. We can probably make major strides with moving one guy, as long as it is the right guy... And that guy is probably Marner more than Matthews or especially Nylander/Tavares.
I agree with a lot of what you said and also disagree with some.
As I mentioned in other thread.
1. Dubas
I mentioned on other thread, having a new GM doesn’t mean he will trade the core and rebuild, he might just stay course with the team and change the coach. If that’s the case and Dubas is willing to do that, I don’t see why Dubas can’t be brought back.
Now if Dubas wants to leave, that’s another question.
Personally, this is Dubas team and I think he is learning how to built a Cup Winning team and also realize there is a lack of leadership in the dressing room and players whom he thought are leaders seem to be the opposite(JT).
Looking at guys he brought in, beside depth signings, those are players that this teams lacked. Foligno didn’t work out due to his injuries but you can’t deny that a hard nosed physical vet with leadership who can score was not what Leafs needed at that time.
Jumbo, Simmonds and even Spezza was brought in for their leadership as they were supposed to be either 4th liner or bottom 6. Simmonds just couldn’t keep up anymore, Spezza was great and Jumbo turned out to be too much of a joker, thus he was not resigned. Everyone he traded for at the TDL were needed.
I don’t see it as Spezza or Shanny’s order but more to do with Dubas understanding or learning how to build a Cup winning team.
2. Keefe
He is gone. He might had done all he could but it also means he is not good enough.
I am sure he will a HC job elsewhere but he really didn’t show anything that make him stands out as a coach. I don’t think any players under him improved a lot. He really didn’t take advantage with what he has on the PP.
3. Players
Need to resign Sammy, Schenn, ROR, Kampf and Acciari. But once you resign them, the roster looks pretty much the same as this year. Also I don’t see Leaf getting outbid with Muz and Murray’s cap as well as the departure of Kerfoot and Holl, unless way overpayment or they don’t want to resign.
Murray is a must trade to free up cap.
That’s why Dubas or the new GM needs to be create with TJ, will team trade fair value for him?
Then need to replace TJ with someone bigger and more physical and cost less than 5mil.
Should they take a run at Brown and Perry, both players who are clutch and win board battles. But Perry is slow though.
Can they send JT away to free up space and find replacement players who can score in the playoffs.
