10 issues Kyle Dubas will have to address as Maple Leafs’ new GM

On Friday morning, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Kyle Dubas shall serve as the team’s next general manager. Here are 10 issues that Dubas will have to grapple with as he begins his new job.

On Thursday, reports circulated that Lou Lamoriello, ex-general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was unlikely to stay with the organization as a senior advisor. Commenting on the future of the New York Islanders’ administration, The Atlantic‘s Arthur Staple gestured to the possibility of Lamoriello venturing away from the 6ix:

"Lou Lamoriello remains a distinct possibility to be added to the front office, but in what capacity remains unclear. After Lamoriello was essentially retired last week as Leafs GM after three seasons, kicked over to an advisory role that sources around the league insist the 75-year-old Hall of Famer has no intention of staying on to perform, there has been an avalanche of chatter regarding Lamoriello’s inevitable arrival on Long Island."

The news was largely unsurprising — especially when considered in conjunction with the wide-ranging achievements that inform the basis of Lamoriello’s résumé.

The question, therefore, became one of succession. With “Loophole Lou” all but surely on his way out, would the Leafs select Kyle Dubas or Mark Hunter as their new general manager?

In the early hours of Friday morning, the hockey world had its answer. President and Alternate Governor of the Maple Leafs, Brendan Shanahan, had promoted 31-year-old Kyle Dubas to serve as the 17th general manager in the team’s history.

Fans of the Buds have known about Dubas for quite some time. When Dave Nonis was fired in April 2015, Dubas stepped in as one of the team’s two interim general managers. Along with Hunter, he became one of the Leafs’ Assistant GMs when Lamoriello was hired to oversee the early stages of the Shanaplan in July 2015.

A Dubas-led future is, indeed, a bright one. The Maple Leafs’ administration protected him from the Colorado Avalanche for a reason and instead ensured that he was brought under the overarching umbrella of Lamoriello’s mentorship. Tasking a young, talented general manager with the prospect of ensuring that the Shanaplan comes into complete fruition is a promising endeavor — a great opportunity, that is, underlined with even greater responsibility.

Let’s take a look at 10 issues that Dubas will have to grapple with as he begins his new job.

1. Fixing the team’s center depth.

With Tyler Bozak and Tomas Plekanec set to become unrestricted free agents in the offseason, center depth — previously one of the Leafs’ strongest fronts — now becomes a point of concern. So how will Dubas look to restore prowess down the middle? Does this come in the form of re-signing Bozak (whose main priority, apparently, is to stay with the team)? Or should Dubas look to target a player outside the organization? Will Miro Aaltonen or Par Lindholm get a chance to enter into the ranks of the Buds’ lineup? What about moving William Nylander away from the wing?

2. Targeting UFAs.

This one goes hand-in-hand with the previous matter. If John Tavares tests free agency, should Dubas work to get him on the phone? Or does he look to target another UFA so as to add depth to the Leafs’ D-core? John Carlson? Ian Cole? Mike Green? Calvin de Haan?

3. Trading for defensemen.

There’s little doubt that the Maple Leafs’ blue line needs a bit of a shakeup. Will this come in the form of a Dubas-led trade? Could Chris Tanev of the Vancouver Canucks be an option? What about making a deal with the Washington Capitals? Can the Leafs offer the Nashville Predators something for Ryan Ellis? Or should Dubas target Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Arizona Coyotes?

4. Cleaning up the blue line.

What happens to the Leafs’ current defensive unit? Does administration look to trade Jake Gardiner? Or should Dubas offer him an extension — albeit by finding him a solid defensive counterpoint? What will be made of Connor Carrick? Does Roman Polak return for a brief stint with the team? Fans may scoff at questions of this nature, but stranger things have happened.

5. The future of James van Riemsdyk.

Arguably the most pressing decision for the Leafs’ new general manager concerns JVR’s future with the team. The 29-year-old left winger is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career and is arguably the NHL’s best player in front of the net. As van Riemsdyk nears free agency, Dubas is tasked with making the best of a tricky situation. Should he opt to extend the veteran forward? Or can that money be allocated for better use?

6. Extending the “Big 3”.

William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews are widely regarded as the faces of the Maple Leafs’ franchise. With Nylander due for an extension in the summer, Dubas shall look to negotiate a deal that benefits both parties. Does he opt to extend Marner too? What about Matthews? Would a waiting game be worth it? Or is a long-term investment a more secure option? Nailing these contracts is key for the Buds’ future, so look for extensive coverage of this matter going forward.

7. Selecting a captain.

Sooner or later, the Maple Leafs will have to be led by a captain. While Matthews is often seen as the favorite to assume this duty, could another candidate be worthy of donning the “C”? Patrick Marleau? Morgan Rielly? Bozak (if he extends)?

8. Goaltending — who stays and who goes?

Steve Dangle recently authored a piece that every Maple Leafs fan should read. In it, he draws attention to the Buds’ goaltending options. Extensive in nature, this is a good problem to have. That said, the question of who ought to serve as Frederik Andersen’s backup is one that needs to be addressed swiftly. For the time being, should Dubas select Curtis McElhinney or Garret Sparks to fill the role? And what is the return like for trading either netminder?

9. Addressing the future of the Leafs’ “old-guard”.

We’ve already discussed the likes of Bozak, van Riemsdyk, Gardiner and Polak. Leo Komarov is also set to become a UFA and Matt Martin’s future has been questionable since the midpoint of the 2017-18 campaign. Will Dubas re-sign any facets of the team’s “old-guard”? Or will he opt to pilot a younger core? Could Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen and Josh Leivo be seen as the backbone of the “new-guard”? And if so, how will he address extending these players?

10. Setting a vision for Draft day. 

While most of the aforementioned decisions are centered on the present, Dubas shall also have to look well ahead in order to set a long-term vision for the Maple Leafs’ future. To ensure that the Buds’ overarching sense of promise expands in the years to come, administration must draft responsibly. Will this start with selecting a player like Ryan Merkley? Jared McIsaac? Another option? Only time will tell.

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