The Toronto Maple Leafs are parting ways with GM Kyle Dubas the club announced Friday.
Dubas, 37, was under contract through the remainder of the season. With his current deal set to expire on June 30th, the club elected not to retain his services beyond the 2022-23 campaign.
“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,” said President Brendan Shanahan. “Kyle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff, and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season. We wish Kyle and his family the best moving forward and thank him for his valuable contributions.”
Toronto went 50-21-11 (111pts) in the regular season, finishing in 2nd place in the Atlantic Division. However after bowing out in the 2nd round of the playoffs against the Florida Panthers, many believed that Dubas’ days with the organization were likely numbered.
At his end of year press conference, the former GM noted that everything was currently on the table in terms of the organization’s direction in the future. He also noted how taxing the previous season had been not only on him, but his family as well.
“My family is a hugely important part of what I do. So, for me to commit to anything without having a fuller understanding of what this year took on them, it’s probably unfair for me to answer where I’m at. I wish I could give you more. But we haven’t been able to have those full discussions yet. But it was a very hard year on them.”
While the former Soo Greyhounds exec stopped short of ruling out taking on any future front office roles in the NHL, he did mention that it wouldn’t be anytime soon, noting the need to recalibrate with his family.
With Toronto now in the market for a new General Manager, fans and media alike have begun to openly wonder whether head coach Sheldon Keefe or President Brendan Shanahan will still be around when the 2023-24 campaign kicks off.
Further speculation has led many to question whether the Leafs’ “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander have what it takes to get the team over the hump in the postseason. Armed with only a late first rounder, acquired via the Rasmus Sandin trade, and a 5th & 6th round selection in the upcoming draft, whatever changes Toronto opts to make will likely need to come via trade or free agency.
Recently acquired forward Ryan O’Reilly has already hinted that he plans to test free agency this offseason. Meanwhile, depth pieces such as Alexander Kerfoot, David Kampf, Noel Acciari, Michael Bunting, Wayne Simmonds, and Zach Aston-Reese are also slated to become UFA’s this summer.
On the blue line, Justin Holl, Luke Schenn, and Erik Gustafsson are all set to hit the open market, while goaltender Ilya Samsonov will become an RFA and is likely looking for a pay raise as well.
Dubas has yet to offer an official statement following news of his release.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: The AHL. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.