Kyle Dubas revealed what he regrets the most about his tenure as Leafs GM

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Mark Parsons
July 12, 2024 (1:44 PM)

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Kyle Dubas, former GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, recently opened up about his biggest regret during his tenure with the team.

In an interview featured by Craig Custance in "The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams," Dubas expressed that his primary mistake was mishandling the contracts of three key players: William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. This oversight likely caused unnecessary tension and distractions, impacting the team's overall performance.

Kyle Dubas admits to mishandling key player contracts early

«The biggest mistake I think I've made in my whole time here has been not taking care of the three incumbent contracts. Nylander was up, Marner and Matthews could have been done on July 1 extensions.»

The delayed contract negotiations created a ripple effect. Nylander's holdout until December 2018 not only disrupted his season but also affected team dynamics. Similarly, Marner and Matthews faced prolonged negotiations, leading to potential instability within the roster.

Had Dubas secured these extensions promptly, the Leafs might have enjoyed a more cohesive and focused team. This misstep serves as a valuable lesson for managing star players and maintaining team harmony.

Dubas' candid reflection underscores the importance of timely contract management in building and sustaining a competitive team in the NHL. The Leafs' future decisions in this area will be critical to their success on the ice.