Dubas Reflects on his Greatest Misstep as General Manager of the Maple Leafs
Former General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kyle Dubas, once revealed his perspective on player buyouts.
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.
Unpacking the Phil Kessel Trade
A significant event that illustrates Dubas' position occurred in 2015, revolving around a major trade between Rutherford and the Maple Leafs.
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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.
Impact of the Cap Crunch
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:
«We had that situation in Toronto, on a retention trade to Pittsburgh. You're looking at it, seven years down the road, and you still have that space, in a hard salary cap environment, limiting you.»
Potential Buyout Scenario in Pittsburgh
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
| POLL | ||
24 JUIN | 136 ANSWERS Dubas Reflects on his Greatest Misstep as General Manager of the Maple Leafs Will Dubas do better with the Penguins? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 27.2 % |
| No | 99 | 72.8 % |
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