Maple Leafs detail split from former GM Kyle Dubas

It’s rare you get an unprompted high level of transparency from an NHL team executive. However, Toronto Maple Leafs team president Brendan Shanahan, speaking to reporters today, offered a detailed description of the team’s process that led to moving on from general manager Kyle Dubas this morning, as well as offering some thoughts about the future of the team.

To begin last season, it was widely reported that the Maple Leafs were not offering Dubas an extension until further along into 2022-23. Per Shanahan, that’s exactly what happened, saying he approached Dubas after the trade deadline two months ago to tell him he’d talk to Toronto ownership about pursuing an extension. Dubas then informed Shanahan he was comfortable moving forward.

Shanahan, throughout the stretch of the regular season and postseason, then pursued a contract framework with Dubas’s agent. Dubas was then presented with an initial contract framework after the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in five games in the Second Round.

While negotiations were positive, Shanahan admitted to reporters his “thought process changed” after watching Dubas’s media availability on Monday, where he mentioned the tolls of the season were tough on him and his family, and there was a possibility he would opt not to return to the role on his own terms.

However, Dubas did make up his mind, telling Shanahan he did want to remain in the role as late as last night when Dubas and his agent presented Shanahan with a contract offer where a “gap had risen” from previous talks. At that point, Shanahan decided the best path forward lay elsewhere and informed Dubas this morning the team wouldn’t be renewing his contract.

One thing Shanahan immediately clarified after his initial statements are that these negotiations didn’t fall apart over money. For Shanahan, it was a shift in thinking about who he wanted in the role that occurred this week.

Shanahan says the team’s focus immediately turns to hiring a new GM, saying he’d prefer to go with someone who has NHL experience in the role.

Shanahan did not comment on the future of head coach Sheldon Keefe, nor was he questioned about it by reporters in attendance.