Dubas doesn't have a contract extension for a reason. If MLSE believed in him he would have been extended last summer. He wasn't. His playoff failures with this team do matter and have finally caught up with him. Having great regular seasons and then out in the first round won't cut it anymore. If there is no playoff success this year he is gone. Playoff rounds equals loads and loads of money. MLSE has given Dubas a blank cheque to this point to turn this team into a winner(PLAY-OFF WINNER) and he hasn't got the job done yet. I like Dubas(for the record) and think he has done many many things right. He has turned this franchise into a world class organization. But the writing is on the wall. That is not an opinion, it is the only explanation on why he has not been extended. Like it or not.
- rSole

Two sentences in a row. “He has turned this franchise into a world class organization.” And “But the writing is on the wall.”

I don’t know about you but I remember when this franchise was anything but a world class organization. Dubas can’t take all the credit for turning it around by any means but he has played a big part in building one of the best teams in the league. I don’t want to go back. Does anybody have any names of replacement GMs that we know are better?

So do we all put a $100 on tb coming back against the cowboys for a nice little profit or nah?
- bryant

No

Why? He’s built one of the best teams in the league. If he loses to another of the best teams in the league does that mean there’s somebody better available?
- Canada Cup

Just means his "one of the best reg season teams" cant win when it counts.....for several years in a row.
It would be time to for a new vision.
Its why he doesnt have a cobtract now

I'm in the middle on this.

Burkie (and others) would have traded 88 for Ritchie or some other worthless assets long ago.

If they finally make a dent in the playoffs you have to give Dubas credit for sticking with this core as long as he has.

On top of that I think he's finally built a better surrounding cast in the bottom 6, d-core and goaltending.
- The Law

Hes done a good job for sure, brought in several players that have worked out.
But its sports business, its about winning in the playoffs.
If they make the 2nd round, hes got an extension for sure imo. If they don't, who knows what happens. Maybe he still gets an extension but is required to make a big change.
Dunno.
We'll see

I wouldn’t be shocked if Dubas was about to get an offer but HE told the MLSE and Shanny not to offer it yet and to keep things quiet so the coaches and players felt it was time to prove things or risk having the team broken up by a new GM.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Dubas was about to get an offer but HE told the MLSE and Shanny not to offer it yet and to keep things quiet so the coaches and players felt it was time to prove things or risk having the team broken up by a new GM.
- Dozzer

Could be.
We will see in a few months.
I think they finally get over the 1st round hump

What's a cobtract?

Tyler Motte at the deadline!
💙

I almost hit reply then saw your post lol You're right
- Aaron_85

What's a cobtract?
- Tee-Dot

Same deal as a contract except you have to be able to bite your signature into a cob of corn to accept the terms.

Just means his "one of the best reg season teams" cant win when it counts.....for several years in a row.
It would be time to for a new vision.
Its why he doesnt have a cobtract now
- Fakepartofme

Maybe they’re the second or third best team in the league this year. I just think the criteria needs to be a bit less cliched

Could be.
We will see in a few months.
I think they finally get over the 1st round hump
- Fakepartofme

The more I look back on things the more I don’t even want to call it a first round hump any longer.

It’s not the full series.

It’s the game 7 (game 5 once I know but it was the same bloody game) the leafs haven’t been able to overcome.

They have only won a game once, against Columbus (the weird series at a weird time of year) when it was a win or go home scenario. Not Boston, Montreal, or TB. That’s what they need to overcome.

As I said earlier I think he gets an offer from MLSE even if they bust out in the 1st round. Short term if it's 1 round, multi-years depending on how far they go. Guy took risks with goalies this year and proved himself right. He's taken a handful of risks and they have worked out. All GMs make mistakes and he has but they haven't been worth firing.

HOWEVER, with that said, plenty of GMs have built a winner and weren't there for the win. Burke took over in Anaheim and everyone associates that cup to Murray before him. So it wouldn't surprise me if Dubas got fired.
- Aaron_85

How can you possibly say he's proven himself right halfway through the season, though? For example, is it right if we get weak goaltending in the playoffs??

Just means his "one of the best reg season teams" cant win when it counts.....for several years in a row.
It would be time to for a new vision.
Its why he doesnt have a cobtract now
- Fakepartofme

I'm going to be nitpicky here and say even with a new GM I don't think there's a "new vision". I don't think he comes in and goes "whelp Marner's 100 points isn't worth anything so trade him, Nylander, Rielly." New GMs that took over good teams tinker around the edges... MAYBE someone goes with a name like Nylander/Marner but I bet it's just relatively more of the same.

It's not specious though. He has built one of the best teams in the league. They are one of the best teams in the league, and he's the GM. They have as good a chance as any team this year.
- Zezel

Zez, the table was already set for Dubas. He's simply rearranged some deck chairs around the core pieces. Good reg season style teams.

Thinking about the playoff history under Dubas made me smile a bit when I thought about last year. The current Rielly disappointment is amusing if you accept the leafs would have not only lost, but been shutout in their last game 7 without him.

Im just gonna laugh like hell if it comes out Dubas HAS an extension that basically sat in the drawer and only reason is bonuses and money on how Leafs finish.

Just read the Lehner story.

$50M in debt…?

My lord.

Thinking about the playoff history under Dubas made me smile a bit when I thought about last year. The current Rielly disappointment is amusing if you accept the leafs would have not only lost, but been shutout in their last game 7 without him.
- Dozzer

Im not sure too many people remember who scored in game 7 or care for that matter as much as the majority just remember that we lost. They still lose if he doesn't score, so that doesn't change.

Im just gonna laugh like hell if it comes out Dubas HAS an extension that basically sat in the drawer and only reason is bonuses and money on how Leafs finish.
- Roadrunner75

Kyle has admitted publicly that he does not have a contract extension.

Kyle has admitted publicly that he does not have a contract extension.
- fifty__missions

🤣 yes because hes just gonna run right out and say anything to the media?! Cmon!!

Im not sure too many people remember who scored in game 7 or care for that matter as much as the majority just remember that we lost. They still lose if he doesn't score, so that doesn't change.
- joel878

Oh I get that losing is losing, especially a game 7, but being shutout is the one and only thing that just makes it a little touch worse.

That excludes horrible injuries happening to players of course.

I disagree with your last comment Mike, The difference will be the excuses.

If Holl and Kerfoot are relied upon to play important minutes in the playoffs, there is a good chance Keefe will be out-coached again.

If Holl and Kerfoot are relied upon to play important minutes in the playoffs, there is a good chance Keefe will be out-coached again.
- Strider

Holl - I guess that's fair. I disagree, but that's fair.

Kerfoot - nah, he's perfectly fine right now in the bottom six. In fact he's playing 4th line centre the last week ...nothing wrong with that.