Maple Leafs Management
Dubas & Nylander Playing Game of Chicken
September 21st, 2018 A few months ago, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas made a bold statement. He’s now having a difficult time delivering on it. It was five simple words - “We can, and we will.” He was addressing the media concerning the ability to sign all the young...
The Maple Leafs Dubious Dubas
July 16th, 2018 “We can, and we will.” That's how newly-minted Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas confidently replied to SportsNet’s Elliott Friedman when asked recently if the Leafs will be able to retain just-acquired superstar John Tavares and their trio of young...
Maple Leafs’ Dubas Is No Revolutionary
July 15th, 2018 When will Kyle Dubas be just a general manager? Opinions on the first-year GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be decidedly split, polarised between the camp who believes he’s a young, math-obsessed disrupter and that which views him as a certified genius who can do...
Maple Leafs & Dubas: Surprising but Right Choice
May 18th, 2018 Kyle Dubas was hired as the 17th general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, a promotion from his previous position as assistant GM. The choice to hire him over fellow assistant GM, Mark Hunter, surprised many but it was not only the planned choice, it was the...
Off the Crossbar: Dubas to Lead Leafs After He's Done with His Homework
May 17th, 2018 Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan ushered in a new and radical era for the team by naming twelve-year-old Kyle Dubas as the team’s 17th general manager in franchise history. Dubas, is now the youngest GM in NHL history, a full three weeks younger than the...
Lamoriello's Legacy With the Maple Leafs
May 17th, 2018 A new era has started for the Toronto Maple Leafs with the announcement that Lou Lamoriello wouldn't be returning as general manager. When Lamoriello was brought on as the new general manager in the summer of 2015 it was to help steer the franchise in the direction of...
Pretender to Contender: How The Maple Leafs Did It
March 31st, 2018 The Toronto Maple Leafs are no longer rebuilding. If that wasn't clear before Friday's win over the New York Islanders, it should be clear now. This team, which finished 30th (dead last) in the NHL standings two years ago, just clinched its second consecutive playoff...
JVR: Should He Stay Or Should He Go?
February 17th, 2018 James van Riemsdyk wouldn't be the first player to crumble under the pressure of a contract year, especially the first one of a career. But, JVR, who has been with the Leafs since being acquired in the Luke Schenn trade back in 2012, has done everything but succumb to the...
The Leivo Saga Keeps Getting Weirder
February 7th, 2018 Josh Leivo is a talented young player; I don't think anyone can deny that. The one problem is, he hasn't been given enough of an opportunity to showcase his talent. He has only played in 25 games since the beginning of last season, and just 53 in his entire NHL...
Hometown Hyman Carrying Heavy Load for Leafs
January 13th, 2018 On Wednesday, I wrote a column calling into question Mike Babcock's use of his players. Included in there was the lineup I would like to see the Leafs use as often as possible. One forward line you'll see I didn't tamper with was the top-line trio of Zach Hyman, Auston...
Is Mike Babcock Icing His Best Lineup?
January 10th, 2018 Few people – in fact, maybe none at all – would argue that Mike Babcock is the best bench boss to grace a National Hockey League franchise with his presence. He's a tactical genius, a player's coach and possesses a strong pedigree of success at several different...
3 New Year's Resolutions for the Maple Leafs
January 1st, 2018 The Toronto Maple Leafs' year of 2017 was defined by nothing other than success. Firstly, as the 2016-17 NHL season came to a close, the Leafs made an incredibly surprising playoff appearance and managed to seriously test - and scare - the Washington Capitals. Although...
What Does a Salary Cap Increase Mean for the Leafs?
December 15th, 2017 On Friday, it was announced that the NHL salary cap is expected to rise from the current $75 million limit. The increase will have the cap set anywhere from $78-$82 million next season and it will have some implications on different teams around the league. The question...
