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In the years of covering the Toronto Maple Leafs locker cleanout day, the 2023 edition may have been the most unusual. The club made a dozen players available throughout the day at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, ON, along with head coach Sheldon Keefe and GM Kyle Dubas.
The feel of the day was one of coming impactful changes, whether it be to upper management, the coaching staff, and/or a significant number of players.
Team President Brendan Shanahan was not made available on Monday but is expected to speak in the coming days. Some would assume that he will speak when a determination has been made on Dubas, whose contract expires on June 30.
Here is some info gleaned on a busy Monday:
Unrestricted Free Agents
Ryan O'Reilly and Michael Bunting both expressed appreciation for playing with the Leafs, but did not say anything more than that and seem poised sound to test the market on July 1, The pair did not the door to coming back, but that would preclude Toronto from making them competitive offers, which will be difficult in a thin free agent market this July.
Forward Noel Acciari and defenseman Luke Schenn sounded more amenable to returning to the Leafs.
The core group:
Team captain John Tavares when asked if he would waive his no movement clause said “I love it here…, which means he wants to stay with the Leafs for the final two years of his contract and potentially beyond.
"I mean if I had all the answers, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 15, 2023
Auston Matthews when asked how to get over the hump in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LHZa2K8xbO
Auston Matthews wants to get his extension done, saying that his intention is to be in Toronto. William Nylander and Mitch Marner were both asked about the possibility of being traded in the offseason and said they love playing in Toronto.
Goalies
Matt Murray was healthy at the end of the season and said it was difficult after being told that rookie Joseph Woll would be starting Games 4 and 5.
Ilya Samsonov had a neck injury after colliding with Schenn in Game 3. Samsonov is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and indicated he wants to return to Toronto.
The Coaching
Sheldon Keefe said he believes in his group and wants to come back with one year left on his contract, but his fate is directly tied to what happens to Dubas.
Leafs assistant coach Spencer Carbery is reportedly on the shortlist for head coach of the Washington Capitals.
The Management
Dubas was unexpectedly emotional when discussing the toll the season took on his family and wants to talk to them before deciding about his future. Interestingly, he ruled out the possibility of being a general manager anywhere else, saying it would be the Leafs or taking a step back.
Without Shanahan present, Dubas was clear in saying "the buck stops here" regarding player decisions and is open to anything in terms of the club's future, citing the Florida Panthers move of trading for Matthew Tkachuk as the type of big move that could happen.
Kyle Dubas, who’s contract is ending with the Toronto Maple Leafs, spoke about his future Monday afternoon. This is about as honest as it gets. pic.twitter.com/JSXaGQFTPG
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) May 15, 2023
Although he did not say categorically that he would move one of the core group, Dubas’ comments were the strongest in terms of recognizing that the club had some shortcomings and would be open to almost anything.
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