Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas Has Full Authority

The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has full authority.

Contrary to what was sort of assumed, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie GM does not need permission from Brendan Shanahan or the board of directors to make a move.

That means that he can fire Mike Babcock.

If he wants to.

Notably, in his post-season media review, Kyle Dubas did not guarantee that Babcock would return as head coach, prompting the annoyance with Babcock to form into full on speculation.

It’s too soon to tell if the Leafs will make a coaching change, but it’s certainly possible.

Full Autonomy

According to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, Dubas doesn’t have to run anything by anyone.

Even if Dubas ultimately decides to keep Mike Babock, it’s important that he have the authority to fire him.  The reason for this is that if the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to keep Mike Babcock on, he’s going to have to adapt his strategies to conform with Dubas’ vision, and why would he do that if he doesn’t have to impress Dubas to keep his job?

And this is assuming that Babcock doesn’t already execute the GM’s vision. It seems to be assumed that he isn’t, but it’s also really easy to take the things Babcock says to the media in whatever context you want to take them. It is easy to notice the things Babcock does that drive you nuts, but easy to forget the changes he’s already made to himself as a coach as he adapts to the new age NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some adjustments towards a more analytics oriented approach under Babcock.  And things like sitting Matt Martin and playing an up tempo game based on puck movement and not defense are things it would have been hard to imagine Babcock doing a decade ago.

There are still things that Babcock does that don’t align with how people assume Dubas wants to run his team. Perhaps the two made a compromise somewhere along the way to get where they are today, but the thinking now seems to be that Babcock should either fully come aboard or get off at the next stop.

If he says, we can assume that it means that he’s going to have to use the players the GM gives him.  Whether it be Petan or a rookie like Liljegren, Babcock has got to start using the guys he’s provided with, even if they don’t fit his definition of what a player should be.

He also has to stop using Hyman in the top six, stop giving so many minutes to Brown, Hainsey and especially Marleau.  He’s got to stop saying things to the media that undercut the GM.

He’s got to stop over relying on stretch passes, dump ins and antiquated breakout strategies.

But if Babcock can do all that, then he should probably stay.  Mike Babcock the person, leader and mentor is a valuable thing to have on the team. I think if he can better execute what seems to be the Toronto Maple Leafs organizational philosophy, then the Leafs should keep him.

But in order to make him to that, he’s got to be able to be fired.