Kyle Dubas comment reveal he wasn't ready to be GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs

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Josh Tupper
July 12, 2024 (7:01 PM)

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Kyle Dubas Reflects on His Biggest Mistake as Toronto Maple Leafs GM

Kyle Dubas, former General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has finally broken his silence on what he considers his biggest mistake during his tenure with the team. Dubas made numerous decisions during his time in Toronto, but he recently shared his thoughts on his most significant error in a book by Craig Custance titled "The Franchise: The Business Of Building Winning Teams."

Dubas, who is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, admitted that while he doesn't regret signing John Tavares, he does regret the timing and approach to handling other key contracts simultaneously.

"The biggest mistake I think I've made in my whole time here has been not taking care of the three incumbent contracts. (William) Nylander was up, (Mitch) Marner and (Auston) Matthews could have been done on July 1 extensions.

The thing I learned was once we signed John to the (AAV) we did, it lifted the lid on the entire ceiling."

Dubas reflected on his failure to secure extensions for Nylander, Marner, and Matthews before signing Tavares. He acknowledged that he discussed the impact of winning the John Tavares sweepstakes with the trio but didn't prioritize their contracts adequately. This decision, he admits, lifted the financial ceiling for the team, complicating subsequent negotiations.

Since taking over in Pittsburgh, Dubas appears to be facing similar challenges. Despite his experiences in Toronto, he has yet to secure Sidney Crosby, the most important player in Penguins' history, beyond this season. This raises questions about whether Dubas has truly learned from his past mistakes.

As Dubas continues his journey in Pittsburgh, his reflections on his time in Toronto serve as a reminder of the complexities and pressures that come with managing a high-profile NHL team. It remains to be seen if he will adapt his strategies to avoid repeating the same errors in his new role.

Source: Blade of Steel
Kyle Dubas reveals his biggest mistake as General Manager of the Maple Leafs