For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas gave fans some much needed fodder in a question and answer with the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran on Friday, discussing some of the decisions he made over the last 18 months and how they will affect the club in the future. “Looking back, I have said before and will say again that the way the William Nylander contract negotiation dragged is something I would like to have done differently.… Dubas said. “That’s the one area where the process behind how the negotiation was executed was poor and that’s my fault. There are a lot of other things I would change or do differently, but the Nylander negotiation is the major area where I feel the most regret.… In spite of Nylander having a career-high 31 goals this season and locked up for another four seasons at less than $7 Million per year, the drawn out contract talks and Leafs appearing to capitulate at the 11th hour put them at a disadvantage in negotiations with both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
VIDEO: A sample of greatness from Nick Abruzzese this season, who was named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year. He led all NCAA first-years in scoring with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists). #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/LMxuISIVVN
— Harvard Men's Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) March 19, 2020
“Tyson is one of the top-scoring defensemen in the NHL over the last three seasons and since mid-November has been right around the top 10 in scoring among NHL defensemen.… Dubas said. “I don’t think we set Tyson up for success the way we could have but he has really stepped up at both ends of the ice, especially as players like Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Cody Ceci have been injured.… The allocation of nearly $40 Million per season towards Nylander, Matthews, Marner and John Tavares will be a factor that Dubas and other GM’s will have to address next season. The salary cap likely not going up with the revenue lost due to the league shutdown could force the Leafs GM into some difficult choices.
“Whatever the economic landscape is, we will have to adapt and find a way to put the best team possible on the ice as we continue to grow toward our goal of being a perennial contender for the Stanley Cup.… Dubas said. “We have a long ways to go, but how we overcome the obstacles along the way will likely be the biggest determinant of whether we get there.…
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We’ve got each other.
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) March 15, 2020
The pod. On pod. Enjoy.#TheLeafsConvo @MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo https://t.co/UZLKpic92F