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Toronto Maple Leafs: Shanahan Isn’t Giving Dubas An Extension Yet

By Stephen Nixon

Jun 22, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas announces the number twenty-nine overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas announces the number twenty-nine overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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To the surprise of absolutely no one,  the Toronto Maple Leafs have not extended Kyle Dubas’ contract.

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Toronto Maple Leafs GM hasn’t been offered a contract extension, yet.

It was surprising, perhaps even shocking, that the Leafs stayed the course following yet another first round exit this past spring.

The argument for keeping Dubas around is that despite the perception, regular season success is more indicative of future success than anything else.

When you lose in Game 7 every year, it’s hard to put the entire blame on the GM. If a team can win three playoff games every year, they should be good enough to win the fourth, but for whatever reason, this team hasn’t got the job done in the biggest moment.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Is on the Hot Seat This Year

Since Dubas technically isn’t employed with the Leafs after this season (as of now), I wonder if it will change his approach. He hasn’t been shy to trade a first-round pick, but maybe he makes a huge splash and leverages the future even more, knowing that he won’t have to deal with the consequences down the road.

If the Chicago Blackhawks want two or three first round picks and a top prospect for Patrick Kane, maybe Dubas is willing to take a bigger swing now to get that player, because he knows it could be the difference between keeping his job or being unemployed.

Or even crazier, maybe he finally trades William Nylander or John Tavares (they shouldn’t do that and this won’t actually happen) for some huge blockbuster move that he thinks can help his chances at staying employed.

Then again, he didn’t do that last year, and he had every reason to think that he would be fired if his team didn’t advance.  It seems highly unlikely Dubas will change his approach in any way.

Either way, being a GM without a contract is a tough state to be in, but it’s the only spot he should be. For the past five years, he’s kept the same core, and they haven’t got it done.

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If this core doesn’t deliver this year, then he deserves to be fired and the Toronto Maple Leafs deserve to restart with a new executive.  Then again, if the they don’t make it out of the first round this year, it’s doubtful Kyle Dubas will be the only change the organization makes.

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