TORONTO (May 27) — If it’s possible, the Toronto media market has gone wackier than ever in the past week. The parting with former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has triggered waves of panic among those that were in his back pocket — none more so than James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, and Luke Fox of Sportsnet. All three are unabashed fans of the Blue and White, therefore incapable of covering the team with objectivity and a critical eye. Siegel, in particular, went over the edge on Thursday with a tear–jerker entitled CONFUSION AND HURT RIPPLES THROUGH MAPLE LEAFS IN WAKE OF KYLE DUBAS’ DISMISSAL:
Wrote Jonas: Anger. Confusion. Shock. Disappointment. Those are some of the feelings reverberating around the Leafs in the aftermath of Kyle Dubas’ firing… There’s a real sense of loss for staff members. Dubas was their leader and the one who hired many of them. Suddenly, he was gone a week after the season came to an end – without, in their minds, a satisfactory explanation. This story reflects their feelings at the moment and speaks to a level of disillusionment that team president Brendan Shanahan and the next GM of the Leafs will have to work to unwind. “I’m in mourning right now,” one person who worked in the front office with Dubas during his time with the Leafs said. “It doesn’t make any sense,” a Leafs front office member said of the way Dubas was let go. “That’s why it’s disappointing.” Shanahan went from wanting to bring Dubas back to firing him in a matter of days. And then offered his version of events in a press conference that left people in the organization confused and upset.
Fox nervously acknowledged that Auston Matthews will not re–sign with the Leafs at 12:01 a.m. on July 1: Yes, Matthews (and his fellow Core Four members) received a reassuring phone call from Brendan Shanahan after the president fired well–liked GM Kyle Dubas on May 19. Sure, the lack of certainty will make for nervous fans and repetitive media questions if/when talks drag past summer. That doesn’t mean the sky is falling, though.
ONLY ONE MAN CALLS THE SHOTS FOR THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS. NEW GM, OR OLD GM.
Meantime, veteran Toronto Star beat writer Kevin McGran unwittingly contradicted himself: Team president Brendan Shanahan did his best to put out the fires he started by calling the Leafs under contract and telling them not to worry, that it is his intention to bring them all back, despite the complicated contract status that awaits whoever replaces Dubas. (Hint: Brad Treliving). Shanahan has gone silent while he interviews candidates. One thing he should be doing is interview every hockey mind who has applied for the job. It’s believed dozens have. And then he should ask them what they would do if they were managing the team. Then he should listen. Take notes.
But, Kevin, the narcissistic president has already undermined his next subordinate by ensuring Matthews that he won’t be traded before July 1, when a no–movement clause takes effect, thereby disengaging the Leafs from any form of control. Auston can dangle ownership and management on puppet strings until either choosing to re–sign, or walking as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Can there be an issue of greater importance for a new GM than determining how to proceed with the club’s perennial playoff flop? If that’s been taken from his grasp, why would anyone but a feeble servant agree to work under the oppressive Shanahan? Could you envision such front–line managers as Doug Armstrong, George McPhee or Jim Nill leaving their current clubs to run the Leafs?
Which is the obvious storyline that everyone in the Toronto media has been avoiding. BRENDAN SHANAHAN is general manager of the Leafs… and will continue in that role even after hiring a “yes man” to work beneath him.
The decade–long quagmire here in town can only change if Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment wakes up and acknowledges the “Shanaplan” has never come close to fruition. But, that would require some effort from the fat TV moguls. Far easier for Bell Canada (TSN) and Rogers (Sportsnet) to rest on their duffs by the swimming pool and enjoy the multi–millions that hockey fans pour into the team each year. Understanding those tortured followers won’t be going elsewhere, no matter the result. “Rinse and repeat” — it’s the the mantra of Leafs Nation.
GRETZKY/GILMOUR/FRASER
30 years ago tonight at the L.A. Forum
FROM MY 1993 PLAYOFF SCRAPBOOK
It is still the most–lamented Leafs game of the post–1967 era.
Even more so than the third–period collapse at Boston in 2013.
Why? The answer is easy:
It’s the only time since ’67 the Leafs were one shot away from playing for the Stanley Cup.
It is also the most–memorable match I covered in 17 years of following the Leafs, home and away, as a radio reporter at The FAN–590. Game 6 of the Campbell Conference final at the Los Angeles Forum. May 27, 1993 — 30 years ago tonight. If old enough, you know the story: Leafs leading the L.A. Kings 3–2 in games. Trailing 4–2 entering the third period, the visitors tie the match on a pair of goals by Wendel Clark, who completes a hattrick at 18:39, roaring off the bench as an extra attacker to fire Doug Gilmour’s feed from the corner past Kelly Hrudey.
Glenn Anderson takes a foolish penalty, boarding Rob Blake of the Kings with 13 seconds left in regulation.
Gretzky, accidently, but clearly, slices open Gilmour’s chin early in overtime on the follow–through of a shot. Gilmour drips blood on the Forum ice as referee Kerry Fraser huddles with linesmen Kevin Collins and Ron Finn. More than 16,000 fans hold their breath. The officials claim that none saw the infraction. Gretzky stays in the game and, seconds later, lifts a Luc Robitaille pass over Felix Potvin (at 1:41 with ex–teammate Anderson still in the penalty box) to knot the series and send it to Toronto for a decisive match. The burning question for Leafs rooters over three decades: What may have transpired had Gretzky been banished with a five–minute major?
We will never know. But, the mystery lingers.
THE RARE TORONTO STAR HEADLINE (ABOVE) FROM MAY 27, 1993. A COLUMN (BELOW) PRIOR TO GAME 6 BY BOB McKENZIE OF THE STAR. BEFORE HE BECAME A LEGEND AT TSN.
GAME 6: TORONTO 4 at LOS ANGELES 5 (OT):
OF ALL THE POST–GAME STORIES IN TORONTO OR LOS ANGELES NEWSPAPERS, ONLY DAMIEN COX OF THE STAR EXPLORED THE GRETZKY HIGH STICK IN ANY DEPTH. PERHAPS BECAUSE OF TIGHT DEADLINES, OTHER WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS DID NOT HAVE THE TIME — OR GUMPTION — TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACTUAL STORY OF THE NIGHT. IT WOULD BECOME GARGANTUAN IN THESE PARTS.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
Howard, regarding Game 6 in Los Angeles, you forgot to mention that the penalty for a high stick drawing blood at the time was a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Could you imagine the seismic reverberations that would have come from Gretzky being thrown out? Kerry Fraser would never work another game in the NHL. People would lose their jobs; the repercussions would be unimaginable.
I forgot to mention? Don’t think you looked close enough.
It is of critical importance that the current assessment of the Leafs is objective and realistic. Why would anyone assume that the core three (Matthews, Marner and Nylander) are anxious to stay? Why wouldn’t one or all of them want to test free agency? What is so great about Toronto? Tavares will probably want to stay after his contract expires in 2 years, but why would the team want him to? I assume if the core three do return, they will be overpaid. Pasternak and Tkachuk signed long term deals with their respective clubs for less than Matthews is making now. What does that tell you? In any event, as Howard has said, what the team needs is a Norris trophy calibre blue liner, not the return of the aforementioned forwards.
Howard,
I am gob smacked by the news vacuum surrounding hiring a new GM.
There are no credible reports of anyone being interviewed, and the only stories about the process and candidates are complete piles of conjecture. (BS)
Yes, interviews are contacted via Zoom these days but, why hasn’t anything leaked?
The only explanation that I have for radio-silence is that Toronto has asked Gary Bettman for permission to hire Stan Bowman. Bowman is a good GM but I would prefer your choice of Wayne Gretzky.
Personally, I don’t care about experience or inexperience – IMO the New GM just needs to have a defensive focus. A top-tier puck moving defenseman capable of moving the puck up the ice to the forwards.
AM, MM, JT, and WL need someone advancing the puck so they can pop it in the net
Brad Treliving’s name appears to have been liberally leaked.
The Maple Leafs were a wasteland of failure after Pat Quinn, missing the playoffs for seven consecutive years before slipping in for the lockout shortened 2013 season and then missing for another three fruitless campaigns. Shanahan came in and gutted the organization, repaired the franchise’s reputation. Under his watch the team has enjoyed unparalleled regular season success. Alas, the post season results are all that really matter to the Cup starved fan base. Shanahan’s third and certainly last GM hire had better be a game changing grand slam. My apologies to Brad Treliving but he’s merely low hanging fruit. Shanahan can’t he hiring another apprentice or genial yes man.
Howard,
It is pretty comical how a president with one playoff series win in eight years has to “make a decision” if he should keep his hand picked GM, who has one playoff series win in five years.
Well said again Howard, you’re the only person I know from the media that tells the truth, and maybe Craig Button to a certain point. Not even worth it to comment anymore, because MLSE doesn’t give a hoot about real Leaf sports fans. We all know unfortunately where this is going, the Titanic will sink slowly… one or two years from now, Shanahan will probably get canned or conveniently resign, then like you said rinse and repeat.
Shanahan and Dubas should’ve both been let go two summers ago, end of story. That would’ve allowed the course of the ship to be altered (maybe even twice). Whoever becomes the new GM, even if it were McPhee or Armstrong, are going to be dealing from a major point of weakness. For Dubas and Shanahan to have lined up these three players to have their contracts all expiring at roughly the same time with NMC’s is TERRIBLE, & INEXCUSABLE management.
As for Shanahan being the guy who called all the shots, that may be helping relieve Dubas of some of the blame he rightly deserves. Given the fact that there were so many Soo Greyhounds connections on this team is proof enough that Dubas had a fair amount of say. Also the fact that Nylander told everyone that Dubas promised he wouldn’t trade him even though he didn’t have an NTC is also proof. Nylander would’ve been easy to move anytime over the past few years and would’ve gone a long way towards acquiring a significant D man.
In fact I often wonder if Nylander had’ve been traded the moment he held out if things would’ve be different.
If he had been traded a couple of years ago his cap space would’ve made signing Alex Pietranglo as a UFA a real possibility.
This team drives me nuts!
I doubt there’s ever been so much fuss over a GM with no playoff success was let go after five years of abject futility.
Shanny had no choice. Any employee who gives his boss and the media world an “I’m not sure…”’ deserve a full lack of confidence vote. And that’s what he got.
You cannot use your family as a crutch and then run off to Pittsburgh within a week. I believe. Dubas had the strong favorable position from Pittsburgh already in his pocket through back channels and tried a power play with MLSE and lost. Now he may lose the Pittsburgh one with another forced demand to have Jagr as part of his entourage.