Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 Defenseman, Goalie, Management Grades

Kyle Dubas

Kyle Dubas was criticized for spending half his money on four elite players, but then he also built one of the best blue-lines in hockey with Brodie, Rielly, Muzzin and Holl absolutely crushing their minutes all season long.

By picking up a first round pick for Kasperi Kapanen, then drafting Rodian Amirov, then signing T.J Brodie, Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds he won last year’s off-season.

At the deadline he brought in Nick Foligno, but it’s hard to dock him on a widely praised move that didn’t work out due to injury.

Bottom line: The Leafs would have won the President’s Trophy if Auston Matthews’ wrist wasn’t injured leaving him unable to shoot the puck for about a month, or if Jack Campbell could have stayed healthier or if Freddie Andersen hadn’t been so inexplicably bad, or if the power-play didn’t suddenly become the worst in the league for no discernable reason.

Then in the playoffs, well what can you do? I hardly think it’s Dubas Fault that Tavares got kicked in the head.  I don’t blame him for the uncalled headshot that led to Montreal winning game six, despite blowing a two-goal lead and being outshot 12 -1 in OT.

I don’t blame Dubas for Auston Matthews scoring once instead of the expected six or seven times.  Can’t blame Dubas for Mitch Marner going cold.

In the end, Dubas was let down by his team, not the other way around.  From drafts, to signings, to trades, to players he previously acquired proving they were NHL stars, Dubas was the best GM in the NHL last years.  The fact his team got powerfully unlucky in a Mr Burns Softball Team style way is not his fault.