LEAFS NOTES: Kyle Dubas explores his “biggest mistake” in a new book, and no, signing Tavares wasn’t it.
Kyle Dubas has had a year in Pittsburgh to think back on his exciting tenure as general manager of the Maple Leafs.
Even though he achieved a number of on-ice goals, led the team to numerous seasons with 100 points, and had some heartwarming moments, he was unable to reach the playoffs. This was largely due to contract issues with the NHL’s wage ceiling, which arose after he outbid other teams for John Tavares with a seven-year, $77 million US offer. The whole Tavares chase by Dubas and his ten years in Toronto are included in a new book titled The Franchise: The Business Of Building Winning Teams written by Craig Custance, a former ESPN reporter who is currently employed by The Athletic. With a year remaining on the Tavares contract, which has given Brad Treliving, his replacement, some issues, Dubas has no regrets, but there are parts of it he wishes he could take back.
Dubas informed Custance, “I believe that not taking care of the three incumbent contracts has been the biggest mistake I’ve made in my whole time here.” “(Auston) Matthews, (Mitch) Marner, and (William) Nylander could have finished on July 1 extensions.”
Dubas regrets not having made more progress on every one of those before Tavares, but he did discuss with the three the potential consequences of winning the J.T. sweepstakes for their future standing. “I discovered that when we signed John to the (AAV), it completely revealed the ceiling,” he remarked. Starting with Nylander, things got complicated when his price increased and an unidentified team mentioned the prospect of an offer sheet. The winger’s two-month absence as a result had an adverse effect on his 2018–19 campaign, during which he managed just seven goals in 54 games during the regular season and one goal in the postseason.
Before signing his current contract, Marner had a brief camp holdout. Matthews then joined the team at a team-high $13.25 million AAV through 2027–2028.
Others have since defended Dubas, and in the book, Darryl Belfry—who was at the time a player development employee of the Leafs hockey office—reminds readers that the aftermath from COVID-19 caused the flat cap at the time, and that history may have seen Dubas differently. “Take COVID out and this is something I consider often.” Belfry speculated, “What would the cap be, $90 million?” “The contracts are signed, and the cap remains in place. I will say it, but Kyle would never utter it. That, in my opinion, plays a role. You find yourself trapped holding the bag on a projection, your reality shut down, and it knocks the cap to a flat cap for several years. You are defeated by an act of nature; you did not miscalculate.
Jim Nill, the GM of the year for the Dallas Stars, Ted Leonsis, Lou Lamoriello, and Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper are among the other interviewees in the book.
MARNER SUPPORTS, BUT QUIET Although Marner’s long-term Leaf career is uncertain, his sixth annual all-star hockey invitational is unquestionably happening. Marner and NHL buddies were scheduled to hold an on-ice clinic for donations on Friday morning at The Sports Village in Vaughan, where they would provide training in puck control, stick handling, and scoring. This came after a red-carpet premiere on Thursday night, during which the hockey media was informed there would be no interviews with the young player. An afternoon 3-on-3 NHL player tournament was scheduled to follow.
The charity, which is a major factor in Marner’s desire to stay in Toronto (the Leafs have two weeks to start negotiating an extension), has raised $2 million to support long-term, sustainable improvements for children and kids in the areas of social services, health, education, and the environment.
California Hotel The American Hockey League has added games between certain cities in the Pacific Division and the Eastern Seaboard to its regular-season schedule. For the Toronto Marlies, that means hosting the San Diego Gulls in two home openers from October 12–13 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum and hosting the Bakersfield Condors in November. There are also four games scheduled for Scotiabank Arena: two Saturday doubleheaders against the Leafs on November 16 and March 15, Boxing Day, and Family Day on February 17. The seventh advertisement is shown below. Your article continues below, but this advertising hasn’t loaded yet. content of the article The Tale of Wendell the Pig From the old Maple Leaf Gardens, Wendel Clark dug out a peculiar relic. Clark referred to “the original practice puck pail” while at the
