Parting ways with Kyle Dubas this afternoon, and showing their AHL coaching staff the door, major changes are expected to the front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer. As many have been suggesting, Jason Spezza was considered to be a strong internal option to replace Dubas as General Manager of the Maple Leafs.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN not only threw cold water on that theory but extinguished the flame completely. He reports that shortly before President and Alternate Governor, Brendan Shanahan, took the podium today to speak to the media, Spezza resigned as Special Assistant to the General Manager in Toronto.
After retiring from the Maple Leafs at the end of last season, Spezza took the job as Special Assistant to the General Manager on May 29, 2022. With only Brandon Pridham remaining as a possible internal candidate to replace Dubas as Maple Leafs’ General Manager, this news will be a significant blow to Toronto’s front office.
As Toronto enters what appears to be a transitional period, there will be a significant debate on what this news means for the Maple Leafs moving forward. Although it appears that the front office might be crumbling in Toronto, there is reason for optimism.
Many of the individuals leaving the Maple Leafs organization today have been around for quite some time. Dubas has been in the front office since the 2014-15 season, Spezza since the 2019-20 season (including his time as a player), and Greg Moore since the 2019-20 season, as well.
Being a team that is in dire need of a cultural change, Toronto may have been destined to seek an outside voice no matter what. However, even though there will be light at the end of the tunnel for this franchise, the holes needing to be filled are beginning to pile up for the Maple Leafs this summer.
All I got is Yikes.
Jeez, the Leafs may not need to get that blower out, after all. It seems like the bricks are falling out on their own. Jenga game gone wrong in the GTA…
KEEFE HAS TO GO TO THEN I REALLY THINK IT IS SHANAHAN THAT IS THE PROBLEM….
Keefe probably feels like he’s on death row these days.
In truth the Leafs chaos started with the Babcock drama. It’s been steadily going downhill even with their great on ice talent. Now they have to make changes based on so badly underachieving.
I thought Leafs might resign Spezza to a new deal, but Spezza resigns from Leafs first.
Leafs prove the point once again that defense wins championships and without any you get knocked out in the first or second rounds. They won’t win until they accept this fact and focus on D vs Offense
I mean in fairness they had great D numbers I. the regular season and improved their backend for the playoffs. I’m not sure I would say this was the problem. certainly there was some big mistakes by Holl and TL at various times, and Brodie looked slow in the Fla series resulting in goals, but this playoff their issue was clearly the core 4 (though maybe 3 and Nylander gets a pass).
not only did they not show up in the second series, their play in their own zone resulted in goals against and they simply aren’t hard to play against in the playoffs. Their cycle game needs space, which just isn’t there come the playoffs. They need to get a body or two that has offensive punch but is a pain to play against. Wilson and Gallagher come to mind. guys you hate to play against but would love on your team.
i do agree if they can swing a trade for a #1 all around defenceman that would be ideal so Rielly can continue to play forward playing defence, and they can move McCabe to a second pairing role where he likely would be best suited (and thrive).
Let them all go or resign we need a new direction
They need to resign Matthews to a new contract once he’s eligible for new deal in July. How will they do that with an empty front office? They need Pridham to stick around.
Into the toilet is a direction, but I don’t think you want to go there. It’s not as fun as it sounds, nor guaranteed you come out smelling like roses.
I would assume a corporation as big as mlse would have a plan or alternative already in mind before moving in another direction. Sure time is crucial with the matthews deal coming up but such is life in the offseason of the nhl for any team looking to replace the gm or president never mind both. But i think a change is needed. But no change is going to be made without a plan