"Hextall put Kapanen on waivers the day after fans chanted for his firing. Somewhat shockingly, the St. Louis Blues claimed him. Hextall told other members of the front office that Kapanen would become a better player elsewhere and that Sullivan was holding him back."

This is what got me. It's not like they "weren't on the same page" Hextall genuinely didn't like or respect Sullivan.
- burgh4life87

How can anyone have respect for Sullivan?

Dubas spent cap space on Matt Murray to solve his goal- tending hole last year, so I don't feel completely safe about him being the guy to fill ours.
- Tojo.

He’s made a fair share of bad moves. That’s why I’d prefer him as a big picture guy with a different GM making the calls on the ground, but he has a solid track record which makes him a lot safer than the other candidates who haven’t sat in the big chair before or Bots/Chayka who flamed out in admittedly poor situations

I heard that as well, but another wrinkle was that hex was going to send out zucker as part of a 3way to get miller, which Sullivan was quite upset about.

So question is, would you prefer JT in place of zucker and I imagine a 1st rounder and whatever else. Or the granlund trade?
- 10inchTerror

Well considering z is likely done as a pen…I’d take jt.

What if rust were part of the deal and they resigned z? That would be nice.

It's honestly hard to know who to trust anymore for Pens insider news. Agree that Yohe used to be the standard but he's basically coasting on reputation at this point. I've seen quite a few competing reports imply his nice guy image is an act.

DK and Rossi definitely make stuff up when they have an axe to grind. Can see Rossi wanting to make it personal after Malkin almost left.

So bottom line for me is I won't take every detail of that report at face value. But I didn't need it to know Hextall butchered the job or Malkin almost left because he was disrespected.
- Tojo.

Sounds like the Bluegs trade drama was completely made up. Haas contacted him directly and he said he was notified before the dinner which he and his father didn't attend.

I never felt DK made stuff up.....even if I don't always like him as a person. Rossi is the guy that's way too loose with facts. He's a classic sensationalist. Can't trust him. Yohe.... Meh... I don't think he's a fabricator, but today's journalism has completely blurred opinion and facts. Straddling that line is tough and he doesn't do it well.

That Bluegs trade story was easily verifiable. How do you get that wrong? That's the kind of thing Rossi would do. Making up drama to boost the story.

FWIW... Filloponi said he has a source that told him Dubas is a done deal.
- madmike71

Oh em gee

How can anyone have respect for Sullivan?
- Grinder47

Ok

FWIW... Filloponi said he has a source that told him Dubas is a done deal.
- madmike71

Ah crap, now I know we arent getting him.


Madden says tomorrow (meaning today 5/26) could be the day we get something decided.

One interesting thing I've seen about the salary cap is that its estimated it will jump by $12M when the escrow is paid off (estimated to be paid off by next summer). That's why some in the NHL want the cap to jump up more than $1M this year to partially offset some of that $12M.

So if a guy like Matthews hits free agency next year, technically, almost every team in the league would have the cap space to sign him including top teams like Tampa, Colorado, etc. Something similar happened with Kevin Durant and Golden State. New TV money hit, big cap gain, a superteam like the Warriors had the ability to grab him.

We get Dubas = start the Matthews to Pittsburgh rumors.

He had history with Murray though. Had him in juniors. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again.
- j.boyd919

Hopefully he did and it's not impossible at all.

Rather than safe, I see a bit of Rutherford. You know he'll take some aggressive swings and that's what they need to do after Hextall. (Always an odd hiring to compete now).

I'd have preferred Darche, MacKinnon, or Tulsky in that order with Dubas fourth, but I get going with experience with such a small window.

Sounds like the Bluegs trade drama was completely made up. Haas contacted him directly and he said he was notified before the dinner which he and his father didn't attend.

I never felt DK made stuff up.....even if I don't always like him as a person. Rossi is the guy that's way too loose with facts. He's a classic sensationalist. Can't trust him. Yohe.... Meh... I don't think he's a fabricator, but today's journalism has completely blurred opinion and facts. Straddling that line is tough and he doesn't do it well.

That Bluegs trade story was easily verifiable. How do you get that wrong? That's the kind of thing Rossi would do. Making up drama to boost the story.
- madmike71

I can see Yohe getting in a tough position with Rossi. They're close friends and if Rossi is saying this is what his sources are saying I don't think Yohe pushes back. Puts his name on it though. Agree though more a case of him getting a little full of himself and thinking he's always right.

Hopefully he did and it's not impossible at all.

Rather than safe, I see a bit of Rutherford. You know he'll take some aggressive swings and that's what they need to do after Hextall. (Always an odd hiring to compete now).

I'd have preferred Darche, MacKinnon, or Tulsky in that order with Dubas fourth, but I get going with experience with such a small window.
- Tojo.

Dubas is much more deliberate than Rutherford. They’re both aggressive GMs but Rutherford is all guts and intuition where as if you look at the Leafs seasons, there’s an underlying thing Dubas has been trying to do with the team identity. It hasn’t been perfect, but Dubas has a process. I don’t think Rutherford had a process. He liked a guy, he goes and gets his guy. Locker room needs a shake up? He ships an underperformer out of town.

That’s why I like the idea of Dubas so much. After over a decade of Big Trade Ray’s get the big fish and figure the rest out later philosophy, Rutherford’s bipolarism, and Hextall’s complete lack of action, I want a GM I can count on to be proactive, but actually have a concrete plan of what they’re trying to do. That said, I like Dubas’s process a whole lot more than his actual moves, which is why I keep going back back to wanting him more as a PHO than GM. Have him set the vision and direct the process, but have a more analytical mind and better negotiator executing the actual moves. Dubas as PHO and one of the up and comers you mentioned would have been my ideal scenario.

But still, even as a known commodity Dubas has upside because there’s always the chance that Shannahan was knee capping him in Toronto. Dubas is a known commodity as a pretty good GM, but maybe he’s elite if he’s in full control? Who knows. We’re probably about to find out. He’s also super young which means he could be in place to see this era close, oversee the rebuild, and still be around when a new window opens. That kind of continuity is enticing as we enter a new era, assuming he pans out.

Dubas spent cap space on Matt Murray to solve his goal- tending hole last year, so I don't feel completely safe about him being the guy to fill ours.
- Tojo.

That's only part of it though. He also traded for Samsanov who had a .919 and 2.33 in all situations, with 27 wins in 42 starts. Leafs had the 8th best SV% at 5 on 5 last season, 10th all situations.

I think a major issue with Murray, much like Jarry, is he cant stay healthy. Then he comes back and it takes time to get back to a good level. From January to the end of February, when with the Sens in 2022...the season before Dubas signed him, he had .941 and 2.01 all situations, then played the first few games of March with something nagging before being done for the season. I remember watching him in that period of time thinking "wow he looks like rookie Murray again". I picked him up in fantasy and he did me wonders those two months.

No matter how you slice it, it was definitely a gamble by Dubas to sign him...one that didnt pay off. However, I think IF Murray could stay healthy he'd have much better numbers.

Dubas is much more deliberate than Rutherford. They’re both aggressive GMs but Rutherford is all guts and intuition where as if you look at the Leafs seasons, there’s an underlying thing Dubas has been trying to do with the team identity. It hasn’t been perfect, but Dubas has a process. I don’t think Rutherford had a process. He liked a guy, he goes and gets his guy. Locker room needs a shake up? He ships an underperformer out of town.

That’s why I like the idea of Dubas so much. After over a decade of Big Trade Ray’s get the big fish and figure the rest out later philosophy, Rutherford’s bipolarism, and Hextall’s complete lack of action, I want a GM I can count on to be proactive, but actually have a concrete plan of what they’re trying to do. That said, I like Dubas’s process a whole lot more than his actual moves, which is why I keep going back back to wanting him more as a PHO than GM. Have him set the vision and direct the process, but have a more analytical mind and better negotiator executing the actual moves. Dubas as PHO and one of the up and comers you mentioned would have been my ideal scenario.

But still, even as a known commodity Dubas has upside because there’s always the chance that Shannahan was knee capping him in Toronto. Dubas is a known commodity as a pretty good GM, but maybe he’s elite if he’s in full control? Who knows. We’re probably about to find out. He’s also super young which means he could be in place to see this era close, oversee the rebuild, and still be around when a new window opens. That kind of continuity is enticing as we enter a new era, assuming he pans out.
- Victoro311

Dubas is only two years older than Sid. So young for that kind of position and I think he will get better and better as he gets more experience. In my opinion he has done far more good for TO than bad. I like that a guy like this will be here for the lean years that arent far away at all haha...if he is indeed hired.

Its crazy that a team of destiny like the Panthers outing a very, very good (elite this season, even) Leafs squad (and Bruins/Canes) might make this guy fall in our lap. The amount of sh!t Leafs ownership, brass and players are taking is insane. If they didn't lose in the 1st round the seasons before this one he would still be their GM, I think.

One interesting thing I've seen about the salary cap is that its estimated it will jump by $12M when the escrow is paid off (estimated to be paid off by next summer). That's why some in the NHL want the cap to jump up more than $1M this year to partially offset some of that $12M.

So if a guy like Matthews hits free agency next year, technically, almost every team in the league would have the cap space to sign him including top teams like Tampa, Colorado, etc. Something similar happened with Kevin Durant and Golden State. New TV money hit, big cap gain, a superteam like the Warriors had the ability to grab him.

We get Dubas = start the Matthews to Pittsburgh rumors.
- SuperHenderson13

Fvck yeah!

Grinder would cry and I would drink his tears.

Hopefully he did and it's not impossible at all.

Rather than safe, I see a bit of Rutherford. You know he'll take some aggressive swings and that's what they need to do after Hextall. (Always an odd hiring to compete now).

I'd have preferred Darche, MacKinnon, or Tulsky in that order with Dubas fourth, but I get going with experience with such a small window.
- Tojo.

After listening to the experts on the radio, It sounds like Darche would have been a good choice. Oh well. Obviously nothing has been announced, but they could definitely do worse than Dubas. I thought his work at the deadline would get them a lot further. At least the Pens threw out the fossils immediately in the first round of interviews.

This is just a random thought, but I wonder how much input Sullivan is having? Seems like Dubas and him would agree on a lot.

Ah crap, now I know we arent getting him.


Madden says tomorrow (meaning today 5/26) could be the day we get something decided.
- SuperHenderson13

Ha ha... Let's see if any of this comes to pass. In fairness, Filliponi said he doesn't know if this source is reliable yet. He couldn't verify it with another source.

Yeah, Madden speculated that an announcement will happen today with a presser next week.

Dubas is only two years older than Sid. So young for that kind of position and I think he will get better and better as he gets more experience. In my opinion he has done far more good for TO than bad. I like that a guy like this will be here for the lean years that arent far away at all haha...if he is indeed hired.

Its crazy that a team of destiny like the Panthers outing a very, very good (elite this season, even) Leafs squad (and Bruins/Canes) might make this guy fall in our lap. The amount of sh!t Leafs ownership, brass and players are taking is insane. If they didn't lose in the 1st round the seasons before this one he would still be their GM, I think.
- MattStrat

Yeah that’s additional upside I didn’t even consider. He’s so young that it’s realistic he keeps getting better at his job.

Fvck yeah!

Grinder would cry and I would drink his tears.
- MattStrat

You like losers?

Dubas is much more deliberate than Rutherford. They’re both aggressive GMs but Rutherford is all guts and intuition where as if you look at the Leafs seasons, there’s an underlying thing Dubas has been trying to do with the team identity. It hasn’t been perfect, but Dubas has a process. I don’t think Rutherford had a process. He liked a guy, he goes and gets his guy. Locker room needs a shake up? He ships an underperformer out of town.

That’s why I like the idea of Dubas so much. After over a decade of Big Trade Ray’s get the big fish and figure the rest out later philosophy, Rutherford’s bipolarism, and Hextall’s complete lack of action, I want a GM I can count on to be proactive, but actually have a concrete plan of what they’re trying to do. That said, I like Dubas’s process a whole lot more than his actual moves, which is why I keep going back back to wanting him more as a PHO than GM. Have him set the vision and direct the process, but have a more analytical mind and better negotiator executing the actual moves. Dubas as PHO and one of the up and comers you mentioned would have been my ideal scenario.

But still, even as a known commodity Dubas has upside because there’s always the chance that Shannahan was knee capping him in Toronto. Dubas is a known commodity as a pretty good GM, but maybe he’s elite if he’s in full control? Who knows. We’re probably about to find out. He’s also super young which means he could be in place to see this era close, oversee the rebuild, and still be around when a new window opens. That kind of continuity is enticing as we enter a new era, assuming he pans out.
- Victoro311

I'd like that idea of Dubas as director of hockey operations. I don't even hate him as GM, just liked the other guys more.

One interesting thing I've seen about the salary cap is that its estimated it will jump by $12M when the escrow is paid off (estimated to be paid off by next summer). That's why some in the NHL want the cap to jump up more than $1M this year to partially offset some of that $12M.

So if a guy like Matthews hits free agency next year, technically, almost every team in the league would have the cap space to sign him including top teams like Tampa, Colorado, etc. Something similar happened with Kevin Durant and Golden State. New TV money hit, big cap gain, a superteam like the Warriors had the ability to grab him.

We get Dubas = start the Matthews to Pittsburgh rumors.
- SuperHenderson13

I’d be interested in nylander….rumor is he wants out. His brother is here so why not.

If Zuckerberg leaves they need to replace him. Idk if I’d sign z anyway at 31.

I know nothing of dubas other than the leafs have some big names and somehow they had cap space?

I'd like that idea of Dubas as director of hockey operations. I don't even hate him as GM, just liked the other guys more.
- Tojo.

Same. Think we’re on the same page here. I think I’ve just talked myself into it more than you have as of today.

I’d be interested in nylander….rumor is he wants out. His brother is here so why not.

If Zuckerberg leaves they need to replace him. Idk if I’d sign z anyway at 31.

I know nothing of dubas other than the leafs have some big names and somehow they had cap space?
- sammy87

We know

Friedman said today that Dubas has been given the weekend by FSG to make a decision. Most of the top leaders of FSG are in Monaco for a F1 race so they let Dubas think about it.

It sounds like it will be Darche if it isnt Dubas. Friedman also mentioned the possibility that Dubas could go to Ottawa instead if they figure out their ownership situation.

Friedman said today that Dubas has been given the weekend by FSG to make a decision. Most of the top leaders of FSG are in Monaco for a F1 race so they let Dubas think about it.

It sounds like it will be Darche if it isnt Dubas. Friedman also mentioned the possibility that Dubas could go to Ottawa instead if they figure out their ownership situation.
- SuperHenderson13

Yins crack me up.

I’d be interested in nylander….rumor is he wants out. His brother is here so why not.

If Zuckerberg leaves they need to replace him. Idk if I’d sign z anyway at 31.

I know nothing of dubas other than the leafs have some big names and somehow they had cap space?
- sammy87

Dubas brought in Sam Lafferty so he’s a no go. Or was that yesterday. I was actually just thinking, remember when everyone lived and died by Corsi around here?