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Toronto Maple Leafs: Kyle Dubas Is Obviously on the Hot Seat

By Jeremy Ridgewell

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 08: Kyle Dubas of the Toronto Maple Leafs attends the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 08: Kyle Dubas of the Toronto Maple Leafs attends the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is in the final year of his contract. Does this mean he is on the proverbial hot seat?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have not won a round under Kyle Dubas, and they are currently making a case for being the most patient team in Pro Sports, but that patience won’t last forever.

One would think that if MLSE still thinks Dubas is the right man for the job, they would have given him an extension already. Then again, the fact that they are giving his plan another year suggests a ton of confidence in him.

The 2022-23 season will be Dubas’ fifth season as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will make him the longest-serving GM in Toronto over the past 25 years.

So far, all Dubas has to show for his time as GM in Toronto is building a team that can have great regular season success. The team has yet to win a playoff series despite the amount of talent it possesses. Dubas’ job is probably safe for the 2022-23 season, but if the team fails to advance beyond the first round of the 2023 NHL playoffs, his time could be up.

But it doesn’t matter what his contract status is. The Leafs could have made the move to fire him already and everyone would have understood, because results tend to be all that matters when it comes to these kinds of decisions.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM on the Hot Seat

If Dubas has not received an extension by the trade deadline on Monday, February 20th, 2023, will he resort to drastic measures?  He didn’t last year, and he had every reason to think it could have been his last as well.  It is also doubtful he is extended until after the Leafs win at least a round in the playoffs.

As GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dubas has stayed committed to his core group. Could he waiver from this commitment at the trade deadline to save his job? It’s doubtful – he looks like a captain who is ready to go down with his ship.

Leafs Player Grades *Goalies and Defenseman*. dark. Next

Through his four seasons as GM of the  Leafs, Dubas has shown his loyalty to his players. Now it’s time for the players to return that loyalty to him. They can do that by winning a playoff round or two or more. A lot is riding on this team to succeed, even more for Dubas.

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