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Dubas: Progress on deal with Matthews & provides outlook for deadline

January 22, 2019, 4:33 PM ET [415 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to give their club a mental and physical day off after playing three games in four nights and being put through their paces at practice on Monday, but while the players were away, GM Kyle Dubas spoke to the media at the Mastercard Centre in Etobicoke, ON on a number of subjects, ranging from their recent struggles to the club’s plans for the upcoming NHL Trade deadline, but the most intriguing news revealed was some optimism regarding a long term contract extension with center Auston Matthews.

“We continue to have very healthy dialogue with (Matthews agents) Judd Moldaver and Jeff Jackson.” Dubas said. “If we knew where all of our players would be (contractually) and what our situation is, it would help us prepare for a number of factors, but that is a very big personal decision for the players and I don’t want it to come off as we are putting pressure on them to do so.”

The Leafs GM indicated that there are no talks with Mitch Marner’s representation, as agent Darren Ferris has said publicly that he wants to wait until the offseason to discuss a new contract.

Toronto has gone .500 (9-9-2) over the last 20 games and lost six of their last seven games on home ice, but Dubas expects the club to bounce back beginning with their final game before the All-Star break against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.



“With our group being a younger group, where the core is young, it’s just a great opportunity for them to show how to lead the group out of it and develop their own leadership.” Dubas said. “In life and in hockey, it all seems to balance out. Most of the time it’s during the season, other times it takes a few years.”

The recent offensive struggles and the injury to goalie Frederik Andersen have revealed the club’s deficiencies on defense and Toronto is well positioned with a large amount of cap space to work with before the NHL Trade Deadline to add help on the blueline and some depth in other positions to make a bid this postseason.

“We do have some (cap)space now, we can improve the group and we’ll look to explore all of those avenues to do that.” Dubas said. “We may not have the same cap space at the deadline in the future, but I think that’s where we’ll be expecting our development model and our program here and some internal development of our (prospects).”

Dubas reitierated his preference to deal for players with term remaining on their current contracts, but did not close the door on adding someone who would become unrestricted free agent next summer.

“It depends on what you’re willing to pay. That would certainly be our preference to have somebody that we know is going to be part of our group for beyond this season, but if there are players that are expiring at the end of this season that can help our group, we won’t necessarily shy away from that either.” Dubas said. “It’s just finding the right people and players to come into the locker room and help us.”

The trade market picked up last week with a number of minor deals and clubs are holding scouting meetings and doing their due diligence before the trade deadline. Dubas believes that the number of transactions will resume after the All-Star break and ramp up towards February, but it is unknown whether the Leafs will do their business early or wait until the eleventh hour.

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