He acquired Stanley Cup champions Jake Muzzin in 2019 and Ryan O'Reilly in 2023 with an eye towards helping get the Leafs over the hump. Marner then got paid seven months later with a six-year, $65.4-million pact as Toronto allocated roughly half its salary cap to four stars.ĭubas also made a number of trades and wasn't shy about changing course, realizing early on that Toronto needed more grit and playoff experience. That set the stage for Matthews to ink a five-year extension with a value just under $58.2 million in February 2019. His first big splash was to lure Tavares, who grew up just west of Toronto, with a seven-year, US$77-million contract in free agency after just a few months on the job.Ī tough negotiation with Nylander - the winger missed the first two months of the 2018-19 season - followed before he eventually signed a six-year extension worth $45 million the following December. “Something that we're all pretty lucky to have.” He cares a lot for his players and his staff. “Definitely a special person to have around. “As a person, he's been unbelievable throughout my whole time here,” Marner said of Dubas after the Leafs were eliminated by Florida. The Leafs lost in seven games to Boston in 2019, fell to Columbus in the 2020 pandemic-necessitated qualifying round, and blew a 3-1 lead against Montreal in a disastrous 2021 collapse before showing promise in a tight, seven-game loss to Tampa in 2022 that set the stage for last month's breakthrough.ĭubas offered unwavering support to Toronto's so-called “Core Four” of offensive talent consisting of Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander. Dubas also didn't shy away from big moves - he fired Stanley Cup-winning head coach Mike Babcock in November 2019 and replaced him with Keefe - but struggled to find the right mix in the playoffs until this spring. Toronto set single-season records for wins and points, and went 221-109-42 in his tenure. The Leafs experienced unprecedented regular-season traction under Dubas - viewed as a young, bright hockey mind with a forward-thinking approach to analytics - over his five years in charge. He took over as Toronto general manager from Lou Lamoriello in May 2018 as part of a succession plan under Shanahan's direction. “I can't put (my family) through that after this year.”ĭubas joined the Leafs in 2014 as an assistant GM at age 28 and managed the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup title in 2018. but you won't see me next week pop up elsewhere. “It'll either be here or it'll be taking time to recalibrate (and) reflect. “I definitely don't have it in me to go anywhere else,” he added at what turned out to be his final media availability as GM. The Leafs won a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades this spring when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning before bowing out to the underdog Florida Panthers in a disappointing second-round showing.Īn emotional Dubas said at his end-of-season press conference Monday he wasn't sure if he would continue on as GM, citing the stress on his young family.įans shouldn't expect Dubas to be joining another club in the short-term. With Dubas the first domino to fall in what could be a summer of intrigue in hockey's biggest market, the attention now turns to his replacement, along with the status of head coach Sheldon Keefe and the future of star forward Auston Matthews, who both have close ties with the now-departed executive. Shanahan was scheduled to address the media Friday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena. “Kyle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff, and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season.” “I would like to thank Kyle for his unwavering dedication over these last nine seasons with the organization, including his last five as general manager,” Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. The team said Friday it is “parting ways” with the 37-year-old, whose contract was set to expire June 30. Kyle Dubas is out as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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