The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season ended last night, with the team eliminated five games into the second round thanks to an overtime goal from Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins. Their elimination from Stanley Cup contention begins what is likely to be a franchise-defining offseason.
General manager Kyle Dubas is on an expiring contract, while “core four” franchise faces such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander are eligible to receive contract extensions this summer. Those players will also see the trade restrictions tighten on their existing contracts, with Matthews and Marner receiving full no-move clauses on July 1st, while Nylander receives a 10-team no-trade list at the same time.
While past playoff disappointments did not catalyze any major organizational changes, it seems this offseason could be different. The Athletic’s James Mirtle shed some light on the challenges Toronto faces heading into their offseason, reporting that keeping Toronto’s front office together “will be far more complicated than simply coming up with a modest extension offer” for Dubas. (subscription link)
According to Mirtle, Dubas “will want to be paid handsomely,” especially if there are offers from competing franchises. Mirtle also writes that Dubas “will want greater job security and autonomy within whatever structure Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment settles on” for the future of the organization. It’s fair to wonder whether the Maple Leafs’ top decision-makers are ready to make that sort of commitment to Dubas after this disappointing playoff loss.
Tied to Dubas for the vast majority of his coaching career, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe’s future is similarly up in the air. Mirtle reports that if the Maple Leafs do end up with a new general manager, “it’s hard to see [Keefe] retained, after four consecutive playoff losses.” But even if Dubas remains in place, Mirtle reports that “there will be a lot of pressure to make a change” behind the bench, especially given some of the high-profile names currently available to be hired as a team’s new head coach.
The reasoning behind Keefe’s departure seems to stem largely from his failure to win more than one playoff series at the helm of some extremely talented Maple Leafs teams. This is likely due to the fact that excluding the postseason, Keefe’s body of work behind the bench in Toronto has been stellar.
He originally rose to the role of head coach after the firing of Mike Babcock, when Toronto was in a relatively tenuous place. He immediately stabilized the Maple Leafs’ season and guided them to a 27-15-5 record in his first campaign behind the bench.
But that regular-season success would go largely forgotten as Toronto fell in the qualifying-round series to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a loss that would serve as a sign of things to come.
Keefe went 35-14-7 the following season but saw his team blow a 3-1 series lead to their arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in the first round of the playoffs. Over the past two years following that series, Keefe has amassed a 104-42-18 record, and his sterling track record of regular-season success is certainly not easily dismissed given how difficult consistent contention in the NHL can be. But Maple Leafs fans surely expected more from this star-studded era, and Keefe’s teams have failed to provide much of anything after the conclusion of the regular season.
It’s a similar story for Dubas, who has made quite a few excellent moves and rightfully earned a reputation as one of the league’s better general managers over the course of his tenure in Toronto. He has made several moves that have paid off wonderfully, such as the team’s buy-low acquisitions of Jack Campbell, Michael Bunting, Ilya Samsonov, and to a lesser extent Conor Timmins. But some larger bets have backfired. Both Matt Murray and Petr Mrazek proved to be salary cap anchors rather than saviors in the crease, while some trades have not aged as well as the team might have hoped, such as deals that sent away players such as Nazem Kadri, Mason Marchment, or Alexander Barabanov.
So, like anyone else who has ever been in charge of team-building for an NHL franchise, Dubas has made his fair share of mistakes. But are his mistakes, which have been largely outnumbered by shrewd moves, enough to punch his ticket out of Toronto? Or will any Dubas departure instead be more related to the inescapable reality that his plethora of savvy moves has not yet resulted in any sort of sustained playoff success?
This is the dilemma that the Maple Leafs face right now. They will have to navigate internal and/or external demands to make a change after such a disappointing string of early playoff exits with an understanding that there aren’t a whole lot of general managers who have won as consistently as Dubas, or head coaches with as many wins as Keefe.
As Mirtle indicates in his reporting, “ownership pressure” in Toronto “is sure to dial up to a new level, perhaps to the point they’re demanding substantive change rather than merely suggesting it,” as they may have in the past. So understanding that, could the first major change that gets made by Toronto be of the off-ice variety?
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Implosion in Trono! Tell us something new! LOL
Can’t wait to see the fireworks! HAHA!
Dubas gone. Keefe gone. Matthews is UFA after next season. Goes home to the desert to be the face a franchise that desperately needs him. Becomes the highest paid player in hockey. And the Leafs are screwed. It just doesn’t get much better.
sorry did you say goes to the desert and highest paid player in the same comment? lol
Right? Not a Leafs fan, but I don’t see Arizona ponying up to pay a franchise altering player like Matthews, let alone ANYBODY. That’s why they’ll never win a Cup. They’re like the Oakland As of hockey.
And really … doesn’t Matthews want to WIN something? Does anyone see the Coyotes being a genuine Cup contender any time within the rest of his playing career?
Have you watched his game in the playoffs?? He obviously doesnt care about winning anything
For reasons that are unclear to me, yinzers are pining for Kid Corsi to become the next GM of the Pens.
I guess we could do worse, we just did, but not sure why it’s become such a white whale at the confluence.
Kid Corsi. Lol
TRADE Matthews at draft to Arizona for Keller,Geekie and a first rounder 23 and 2 second round picks in 24…Save a shit load of money as well..
Why would Arizona do that trade? Matthews come July 1st can pull a Taylor Hall & only demand a trade to Arizona. Toronto has 50% of their cap space tied up into 5 players for next season. No way should Arizona give up that much in assets for Matthews.
Hahahaha
Yeah good luck with that.
Arizona don’t have an arena yet. They prefer to keep salary low for another year tank again and get even more young assets. They can sign Matthews as a free agent They aren’t in a rush and Matthews only hurts their draft position.
Matthews & Marner are the 2 biggest concerns. Come July 1st Matthews gains full control of his future. Let the off-season chatter on SportsNet begin!
no the GM is the biggest concern. whether it’s Dubas (who I’m not as down on as others) or someone new, the Leafs need to figure that out ASAP. A new GM or Dubas need to know Matthews and Marner situations going into the draft. They are either locked up, one traded or both gone.
If I’m the Leafs, I’m ok moving Matthews if he isn’t sure about signing long-term. The reality is he is a perfect microcosm of this team. Amazing in the regular season, one of the best on the league, but come playoff time, just disappears and doesn’t play up to potential.
Toronto should trade Matthews at the draft so they are not left at “the Altar” with nothing come next off-season.
Maybe a 2013 1st, 2024 1st & Huberdeau from Calgary for Austin Matthews ($2-$3 million retained) with a extension.
I think you mean 2023 and Montreal has their 2024 first round pick.
Dubas often gets praised for his moves but it’s never mentioned how he has left the cupboards bare in terms of draft capital.
Foligno gave them about 10 games and cost a 1st and a 3rd. And so many other trades that cost future picks.
Considering his teams have consistently failed miserably, Dubas should be extremely grateful if he has a job in the NHL next year. Leafs need to cut ties with this loser.
I think whether it’s with the Leafs or another organization (Penguins?), he’ll definitely have a job in the NHL.
I mean the same could be said for a number of GMs. the reality is if you aren’t winning Stanley cups, it doesn’t matter what you truly do.
That being said for Dubas, he has at least tweaked his outlook a bit and this year’s team was better constructed than past for playoff hockey. They just sacrificed getting a reliable goalie and the core once again were soft when pushed.
all these people saying Matthews goes to Zona. why? apart from he’s from there, why would he want to play in a less than 10,000 person arena for a team that will never make it out of the west.
now going to a California team is possible. Anaheim with Zegras, Matthews and Fantilli
I know it’ll never happen, but they really need a better team name and logo. I don’t care if they’re an Original Six team, it’s a stupid name. I don’t think there’s any team with a less intimidating name than the Maple Leafs. Bugs eat maple leafs. Maple leafs don’t hurt anyone or anything. They die so other things can grow just like the hockey team does every year.
If the Lightning hadn’t had short rest three seasons in a row, this probably would have been another first round exit. There’s no excuse for having this much talent on a team that can’t get anything done in the playoffs when it really matters… for decades and decades now. I think it’s interesting that all you have to do in Toronto to “make their dreams come true” is score a goal. That goal song really needs to go too.
The Maple Leafs would probably really benefit from a complete overhaul and even a rebranding. Probably won’t happen though. The Toronto Authoritarians. I bet Canadians would embrace it with open arms.
This may be the dumbest comment I’ve read on this site in the last year (maybe apart from the goal song).
Some of it was tongue-in-cheek, but the team name is the dumbest in the league. It’s weak and harmless, but I’m sure next year will be the year all the undeserved playoff hype this team gets produces something worthwhile! As for the “dumbest comment”, you must not read this site very much.
I do. that’s how ridiculous your comment was. worst is you doubled down on the team name.
how many players in the league do you think are intimidated by a team’s name or logo?
I’ll 10x down on it being a dumb name. *shrug* Teams can have dumb names in any sport. The logo is the most public facing image there is of any team and so it’s very important. People derive meaning from the logo and the name. It doesn’t matter whether or not the players are intimidated by a name or logo, but both give out an image to the public of that team. It’s not for the players so much as the public.
Hockey is a tough, physical sport. Leaves are not tough and are in fact harmless. They are seasonal and die when the season is over… actually much like the Leafs do once the regular season ends. Hey maybe it’s actually the perfect team name. You’ve made me see the light! I take it all back.
Good grief. A lot more Cups have been won by teams with non-fierce nicknames (Canadiens, Red Wings, Leafs, Islanders, Oilers, Senators, Maroons, Flyers) than otherwise.
Well, the Habs are at least people. The Winged Wheel for Detroit is at least cool looking and a flying wheel isn’t benign which gives “Red Wings” some power. Islanders sounds like a group of people too. Oilers is meh, but who wants to be oiled? Not me! The Sens probably shouldn’t be included as they have a guy with a Roman style war helmet on. I will not try to make an excuse for the Maroons, that’s a hilarious name. Flyers’ logo is a flying puck and the black-orange combo makes anything look meaner.
lol.. I admit I’m just kicking the Leafs when they’re down and if that’s wrong, well.. I don’t wanna be right!
What Toronto really needs is another NHL team. I know the Leafs will whine and moan to the league, but seeing $600, standing room only seats, and paid, gated areas outside the arena is just mental. Heck, neighbouring Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) has a population of nearly 2 million people on its own. If anything, the league needs to get over its Original Six prestige BS and get another team in the region.
@sessh
This guy’s is a complete idiot lmao. Easily and I mean by a mile the stupidest comment I have ever seen on this site. Quick question here, if we rebranded our team (which has been the same for a 100 Years now) do you think that would make us more successful? The maple leafs aren’t scary enough of a name? Omg just when I thought the leafs hate couldn’t get any stupider i wake up this morning and read this feed lmao
The wild, The red wings, the Blackhawks, the penguins, the jets, just to name a few, none of them are scary should they all just change the name amd logo? Why am I even engaging in this convo I dunno it’s just so ridiculously stupid honestly
Ahh but it had the intended effect of triggering you Leafs fans, so how stupid was it really? lol Really? “Blackhawks” is a weak name? It’s the name of a military helicopter which was named after a native american war leader Black Hawk, so weak! Jets? Weak name too? Wild/Untamed is weak? Penguins can hurt you if threatened. Can a leaf harm anyone? A flying wheel is weak? You can do better than that. Even for a Leafs fan, that’s low effort. Par for the course, but keep going I’m enjoying this! It’s easier than I expected. lol
To entertain it a bit more seriously, the Red Wings instantly became more successful when they changed their logo. Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays instantly became a contending team pretty much annually after they rebranded themselves as the Tampa Bay Rays with a new logo and colors. Rebranding isn’t exactly something new, it happens all the time in sports; MLB, NBA, NFL etc.. you name it. New logo or new names to give the team a fresh look or a new start. The Maple Leafs are losers no matter how good their team is, maybe they need a new look to try to wipe some of this loser aura off of them. Won’t be long until the team is commonly referred to as cursed.
.. but let’s not let any of that get in the way. Let’s get back to the crying. That’s more entertaining.
There’s way to much stupidity to respond to this troll. Stupidest opinion i have ever heard.
I’m gonna respond critically to the “branding” thing. Because I apparently hate happiness.
The Leafs brand is not intimidating, true – but it is prestigious. In Canadian hockey, there is a lot of value in prestige. There’s so much history that even one of our former Prime Ministers is an author and scholar on hockey history. The Leafs don’t need snarling fangs – they have pride and prestige. Those are intimidating in their own right.
Branding does not somehow magically change a team. The Canadiens logo is a big C with an H in it – winningest team in NHL history. Branding is not for the on-ice product, it’s for the fans. It’s marketing.
Never mind that – the Leafs HAVE had rebrands. They introduced the modern Jersey with the superfluous strings at the collar. They rebranded from their iconic (for me, anyway) 90s decal with sharp, even edges to a more retro “fancy” leaf. I personally prefer the 90s look, but I see what they were going for.
I think what you really want here is the CULTURE CHANGE that often comes with rebranding, as is the case with newer franchises looking to find their identity. Yes, the Leafs need a culture change. Heck, I’d argue the entire fanbase and media gong show in Toronto needs a culture change. But the Maple Leafs brand? That has endured for a century, and is not likely to change. It’s a stupid leaf, but it’s a leaf people love.
Yeah perhaps that’s a better way to put it, a culture change. A rebranding would kinda have a similar effect, but I see your points otherwise.
However, the flat part of a leaf that does photosynthesis is literally called the leaf blade. A leaf logo that incorporates a sword or blades would be a a massive improvement and would certainly look cooler. The stem at the bottom alone would make a nice sword blade. There’s some really low hanging fruit there that would go a long way in updating the logo and look without even changing the name at all and since it’s still a leaf, the prestige isn’t lost either.
Yes I did make the point that the “branding” is for the fans mostly, but there is also something to be said about a change of scenery for the players to an extent. A redesigned (even if slightly) jersey, the locker room looks a little different with the new imagery etc… and that can have the effect of making things feel “new” while also making it easier to shed some of that old skin and everything that went with it.
Of course as you said, it wouldn’t be the first time they did something like this and so maybe it would have no effect, but it’s a pretty easy thing to try again.
Maybe if we add that sword blade people will be scared to play us. Great idea!!
Maybe so! You’re certainly not scaring anyone with your on-ice product when it really matters. Perhaps real swords would work better. You could win a cup if you injure all of your opponent’s players.
You just can’t resist replying, can you? lol Hey at least the Jays are good this year, so that’s something. Give them swords too just in case.
I can’t help replying, yet I agreed that was a incredible idea you had but you still kept up the trolling. But seriously….amazing idea with the sword, thats exactly what they need!! Good job man!!
lol… yeah I know but I can’t take it seriously. Ok I’ll try. *ahem* Hey thanks man! I appreciate the support! Eh.. that wasn’t very convincing. I wouldn’t buy it. lol
You know, I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve trolled people online in my whole life. I don’t know what got into me this time. I appreciate the bits of serious discussion sprinkled in too.
At this point, the Leafs really shouldn’t be afraid to change anything except the name and the general “Leaf” logo since I do see why that symbol is so important. I’d want to wipe as much of the slate clean as possible though.
Losing long enough has a way of imprinting on the whole franchise and it’s hard to get out. Took the Cubs what.. 108 years in MLB? The Leafs are at 56, it’s getting up there.
Marner is eligible for a NMC clause but he has two years remaining so not eligible for an extension at an actual dollar cost of $8M but a $10.9M cap hit.
Depending what, if any, core changes focus on, whether positional or cap hit cost, the Marner/Nylander situation will be interesting to watch. Matthews NMC is also concerning without an extension in place.
LOLeafs!
Let Dubas go to Pittsburgh and face the LBJ and company freak show. As for Shanny, neither he or Dubas have any real autonomy (unless it’s a bathroom break) when selecting, rewarding, trading players etc. However, what Bell and Rodgers cannot do is influence the coaching technique – that’s all on Keefe, who MUST BE LET GO given the four core have given up on his teachings and program. This team is far too talented to be eliminated by an 8th seed who barely made it to the playoffs. Ya ya, Florida beat Boston, but the Presidents Trophy winners are generally cursed anyhow. I think the Leafs would’ve beat Boston this time if they had met.
Best case scenario would see Bell and Rodgers sell the team to a sole ownership to end the years of the abusive tug-of-war between biz execs who know bubkus about the sport of hockey. Shanny and Dubas can only make recommendations. Ultimately all final (business) decisions are made by the armchair athletes in the corporate offices. Imagine? Since Ballard, I have not attended one Leaf game, with no plans to break that streak ever. Wanna send a message, stop handing over your hard-earned after tax dollar to these simeons who don’t give a tinker’s cuss to the fan who supports the entire margin!!
Don’t think that message is going through then, if nothing has changed since the Ballard era haha.
I agree with letting Keefe go. He hasn’t been the guy to put the Leafs over the top. Interested in seeing Coach Q there though. He’s got the track record, and could be the voice the team needs. Of course, if they can’t shore up that goaltending (Woll is still a question mark), can’t see them finding any more success in the playoffs.
no way Q is getting a job with the Leafs, and that’s assuming the league allows him to work anywhere.
Now Gallant would be interesting.
Habs fan here. It really is a tough decision. I always thought Nylander should be the 1 to go, makes the least so easiest to trade BUT he’s really the only 1 that showed up lately. So is Marner an 11 mil player? Well he’s a top line all situations kinda guy so it’s the 40 goal scoring center that has to go then. Super tough really in my mind if Matthews doesn’t want to resign or is asking too much he has to be the 1 to go but it would be similar to the Dubois situation in that your wouldn’t get full worth. Were do you even trade the guy to and for what. 2 top prospects, top 6 center, 2 firsts? Tough ask
@colored
Agreed with everything u said except the woll is still a question mark comment. If he hasn’t proved he could be a reliable backup I’m not sure what more you are asking him to do to prove that. As a Marlies season ticket holder I assure you he is a nhl capable goalie, they never should have bothered bringing Murray off ltir and used that money elsewhere at the deadline. That move (as well as sandin move) are the 2 moves I can’t forgive. Why move sandin for a puck mover you don’t plan to play?
Samsonov will be re-signed, Murray moved, Woll as the backup, goalie position is set.
Samsonov will be contract dependent. he’s only back if he is taking $3 or less.
as for Sandin. I don’t hate the move. I mean I do feel it was a bit of a sell low but the idea was getting the 1st and not worrying about another ARB situation. Sandin likely doesn’t crack that lineup in the playoffs. He’s not a playoff defenceman. He isn’t built the way you need your top 4 guys to play come the playoffs (plus I argue Rielly isn’t either but you already have him).
I think they can make the Samsonov deal work, but I was thinking 3 or 4 years x 4 mil is the max offer. Price will be driven by other offers.
Sandin deal made no sense to me, what we got in return could have been more then Gustafson and a 31st
common LOLeafs L
Given they have won one playoff series in 20 years how long before the rest of the league starts chanting …
We want Toronto.
We want Toronto.
It likely already happens
Clearly Matthews has shown If he is your number one guy. You will not win. He should go play in Arizona get max dollars . Set a bunch scoring records like ovechkin. maybe if lucky win one stanley cup. Clearly he is not Crosby takes less wins four cups two gold medals.
I don’t understand these GM’s that hand out full No Movement Clauses to players with high salaries? I mean look at the Rangers, they’d love to get rid of a few of their high priced players (Panarin $11.6m /3more yrs, Kreider $6.7m/4 more yrs, Trouba $8.1m/4 more years to name a few) but they all have FULL NMC! The team is hamstrung with older, underachieving, high priced players because of it, and will have to sacrifice younger cheaper and in some cases better players because of it.
My advice to GM’s around the league. Give a very limited NMC to the player. For example, maybe full NMC the first 2 years, then after that the player gets to pick 10 teams he doesn’t want to get traded to.
Why would you put Kreider on that list? Any team would take him in a heartbeat.
The only reason GMs hand out NMCs and max term contracts is that they’re under pressure to win NOW, and they don’t imagine they’re going to be around four years down the road when those contracts bite the teams in the collective asse$.
Just seeing Dubas’ virtue signaling smug face given his walking papers will make all this failure worth it. :D
Dubas is going to have a good job lined up somewhere else if he is not brought back. Keefe is a bozo though, I can’t see him finding another head coaching gig anytime soon.
Maintain status quo because as long as Shanny and Dubas are in charge this team is going nowhere and will continue to drive Leaf Nation up the wall.
Maple Laughs on the golf course … FIFTY SIX years and counting!
The league’s best soap opera is Toronto. More rumors please. They just need to pay more money to the players and have bigger committees to decide on pkayers.