Just one week removed from the conclusion of their season, the Maple Leafs announced that general manager Kyle Dubas would not have his contract renewed following the 2022-23 campaign.
The Maple Leafs snapped their 17-year first-round winless drought by taking down the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, then were faced with a Florida Panthers team that had just defeated the Presidents Trophy-winning Boston Bruins.
The stars were aligning for Toronto to potentially make a deep run, but it was not meant to be. Florida burst out to a 3-0 series lead and ultimately ended it in five games.
While the Leafs were in the playoffs, the attention they received was plentiful, and it seemed as though the expectations for them grew with every goal scored. The media presence professional athletes face is abundant, but for Canadian hockey teams, the attention reaches a different level.
Dubas spoke to the press Monday regarding his future with the club, how he needed to discuss the future with his family, and how the thought of taking a step back had crossed his mind.
Canucks Talk with Jamie Dodd and, today, Bik Nizzar spoke with former Canucks and Leafs General Manager Dave Nonis Friday to showcase what being in a pressure-filled front office role can look like and what the future may hold for Toronto.
“It can be a difficult situation, even when you’re winning. There were times, even in Vancouver, I remember one morning taking my son to school and there was a TV crew in my driveway,” Nonis said. “So, those things happen, and you have to be able to deal with them… It can be difficult on the family, it can be difficult on your wife, your kids, and you have to understand that and be able to deal with it.
“Because in the Canadian market, whether it’s Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, you’re going to have a fan base that is very interested and — in some cases — may cross the line to the point where you feel like you’re being invaded,” he added.
Nonis spoke further on how some players and front office staff preferred avoiding the spotlight, admitting that the bright lights took their toll and that it would be understandable if they were part of why Dubas avoided committing to Toronto.
“At the end, it sounded like (Dubas) didn’t want to do (continue with the Leafs). And, you know, there was a point there from the team where they felt that they had to move on because of the decisiveness or wishy-washy interest,” Nonis explained on why he felt Dubas wouldn’t return. “I believe that he wanted to come back, and there were family issues there that made the last week more difficult for him.”
Asked about the precarious position for an incoming GM, Nonis was succinct in describing the stakes for whoever was next in line to head the Maple Leafs ship.
“Incredibly risky,” Nonis responded.
“They may have to make a change. And in the makeup, maybe it’s just a coach; maybe the coach stays, and they trade one of the players. Whoever comes in is going to have to make that determination. But usually, when you trade the best player in the trade, generally speaking, the team that gets the best player wins.”
“They have some of the best players in the league on their roster. But time is also ticking, you’ve got Matthews with the one year left before his no-move kicks in, and then you’re in between a rock and a hard place,” Nonis added. “It’ll be a very busy and interesting summer for whoever gets that job. And I would also expect that this is going to be a job for someone who’s done it before, because the importance of making the right moves can impact the franchise for a decade.”
Owners of back-to-back 50-win seasons, the talent on Toronto’s roster is abundant, despite a lack of playoff success to the degree many expected. It’s hard to argue that, as currently constructed, they aren’t a good hockey team, something the former Maple Leafs GM echoed on Friday.
“I highly doubt that whoever comes in is going to say, ‘No, we’re going to really change the look. And we’re going to move to the top four, and this is what we’re going to do.'” he told Dodd and Nizzar. “I think they’re going to try to change the look of the team — maybe through free agency, maybe making a move with one of those high-end players — but I don’t think you’re going to be in a situation where you can take advantage of Toronto right now.
“I think whoever goes in there is going to take their time like they should. And I think they’re going to have experience.”
As a former general manager with experience in major hockey markets, Nonis is also uniquely familiar with the pressure and expectations that come with building a team in a city with a passionate fanbase. Despite that pressure, however, the allure of returning, even with a major market club, remains strong for Nonis, who last served as an assistant GM for the Anaheim Ducks in 2022.
“If there’s the right scenario, I would; I would definitely look at it. From my standpoint, I’ve really enjoyed stepping away this year and, and doing media with you guys and other locations. I have been able to watch the game a different way and probably a more pleasurable way in some cases. But if it’s the right situation, I would love to go back to work for a team.”