Dubas Reflects on his Greatest Misstep as General Manager of the Maple Leafs

He described them as a "last resort," a standpoint influenced in part by his experiences with Jim Rutherford, the previous General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A significant event that illustrates Dubas' position occurred in 2015, revolving around a major trade between Rutherford and the Maple Leafs.

This deal featured star forward Phil Kessel, with the Leafs agreeing to retain 15% of Kessel's eight-year contract, which came with an average annual value (AAV) of $8 million.

By the time Dubas assumed his role in 2018, the Leafs were left with a $1.2 million obligation, with four years still remaining on Kessel's contract.

This situation became more challenging as key players such as William Nylander, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner commanded a combined salary of over $40 million.

The Leafs faced a tough salary cap crunch. They found themselves allocating $1.2 million to a player no longer on their roster. This circumstance elucidates why Dubas takes a reserved stance when considering player buyouts.

Dubas reflected on this incident, saying:

In contrast to the Leafs, the Penguins face a potential buyout with Mikhail Granlund. Following an underwhelming season, Granlund still has two years left on his $5 million contract.

The buyout would burden the Penguins for an additional four years. The first year would be more manageable, demanding less than $1 million, but the figure would surge to nearly $2 million over the course of 3 years.

As Read on HockeyPatrol - Kyle Dubas Reveals His Biggest Mistake as Maple Leafs' GM