Mike Augello: Carbery Named Head Coach Of Caps; Wilson Intriguing GM Candidate

(frank) Shanahan for being a baby, and putting the Leafs in this position

And (frank) Pneumonia for being awful, and making breathing suck

Doug Wilson has lots of experience as GM of a good team that never won

Honestly, Dubas was a solid GM. He helped cultivate MLSE into a much better organization. Pre-Shanahan/Dubas MLSE was laughed at and looked down upon, even making all the money they did.

Dubas has turned MLSE into a place for agents to highly recommend/players to want to come play for. They have done a good job of taking care of personnel and it's showing. Sure behind the scenes seem to be a mess with Shanny and Dubas but they did a good job of not having poop leaked or showing how bad it was/might have been. That's pretty hard to do in this age of technology and social media.

He gets credit where it's due. It sucks the team hasn't had better performances in the playoffs but you also can't discredit the regular season. You need a solid performance there to make the playoffs. Record setting won't matter in 5+ years but honestly, it's a lot more fun seeing the team get a 100 points consistently then toil away praying for a playoff spot every year.


This is my final post in previous blog to the suggestion Dubas was a crap GM.

Doug Wilson has lots of experience as GM of a good team that never won
- senstroll

Is he healthy again and even interested? He stepped down as the GM of the Sharks because he was sick.

(frank) Shanahan for being a baby, and putting the Leafs in this position

And (frank) Pneumonia for being awful, and making breathing suck
- GreatGigInTheSky

1. Sucks your sick. Get well.

2. Yeah I agree but it's all done now. Can't do anything else but look forward and to the positives. The playoffs are almost over so it means we should see some team trades and signings I hope. I hate that GMs seem to take the playoffs off from announcing cool trades.

(frank) Shanahan for being a baby, and putting the Leafs in this position

And (frank) Pneumonia for being awful, and making breathing suck
- GreatGigInTheSky

What position?
Looking for a new gm after the previous one had no playoff success and tried to hold out for more money?

Hope you get well soon

Honestly, Dubas was a solid GM. He helped cultivate MLSE into a much better organization. Pre-Shanahan/Dubas MLSE was laughed at and looked down upon, even making all the money they did.

Dubas has turned MLSE into a place for agents to highly recommend/players to want to come play for. They have done a good job of taking care of personnel and it's showing. Sure behind the scenes seem to be a mess with Shanny and Dubas but they did a good job of not having poop leaked or showing how bad it was/might have been. That's pretty hard to do in this age of technology and social media.

He gets credit where it's due. It sucks the team hasn't had better performances in the playoffs but you also can't discredit the regular season. You need a solid performance there to make the playoffs. Record setting won't matter in 5+ years but honestly, it's a lot more fun seeing the team get a 100 points consistently then toil away praying for a playoff spot every year.


This is my final post in previous blog to the suggestion Dubas was a crap GM.
- Aaron_85

They both get some credit for this. Shanahan when he came in wanted to foster change and I think between Shanahan, Lou and Dubas, they did. They created a series of programs and world class facilities to make it a place that free agents would consider, and Dubas had created a reputation as a man of his word - which was mostly useful for attracting the lesser talent or the second kick at the can guys. Basically he had demonstrated that if a guy came in and we couldn't use him or he wasn't going to get ice time, he'd get moved - as per the word given during negotiations. That stuff goes a long way with agents and players. Barabanov didn't work out here, but he's doing well in San Jose. A guy Lehtonen didn't pan out, but when we weren't using him, he was moved to Columbus. The list goes on with guys like Leivo, Carrick, Lindholm, Sparks or Borgman.

As long as they continue in that vein, a new direction won't kill the team - but the things Dubas did while he was here were generally good I thought.

Honestly, Dubas was a solid GM. He helped cultivate MLSE into a much better organization. Pre-Shanahan/Dubas MLSE was laughed at and looked down upon, even making all the money they did.

Dubas has turned MLSE into a place for agents to highly recommend/players to want to come play for. They have done a good job of taking care of personnel and it's showing. Sure behind the scenes seem to be a mess with Shanny and Dubas but they did a good job of not having poop leaked or showing how bad it was/might have been. That's pretty hard to do in this age of technology and social media.

He gets credit where it's due. It sucks the team hasn't had better performances in the playoffs but you also can't discredit the regular season. You need a solid performance there to make the playoffs. Record setting won't matter in 5+ years but honestly, it's a lot more fun seeing the team get a 100 points consistently then toil away praying for a playoff spot every year.


This is my final post in previous blog to the suggestion Dubas was a crap GM.
- Aaron_85

The leafs were laughed at pre-dubas cause they sucked and had no talent.
But because they sucked and kept their picks they got talent. Dubas may have improved some things for sure but suggest he made the leafs the place to be, not sure about that. FA's and players want a chance to win, with the talent the leafs drafted pre dubas, it helped changed the results.
I liked dubas, made some good trades, made some bad ones. But ultimately he failed.
With that said, dubas and shanny did make some positive changes

The leafs were laughed at pre-dubas cause they sucked and had no talent.
But because they sucked and kept their picks they got talent. Dubas may have improved some things for sure but suggest he made the leafs the place to be, not sure about that. FA's and players want a chance to win, with the talent the leafs drafted pre dubas, it helped changed the results.
I liked dubas, made some good trades, made some bad ones. But ultimately he failed.
But dubas and shanny did make some positive changes
- Fakepartofme

Dubas was hired in 2014

Dubas was hired in 2014
- senstroll

Great.
Hes been the gm of the leafs since 2018.
Prior he was asst gm..had input of picks but not the final decision

I can’t understand the need to choose sides here.

Shanny knows more than we do behind the scenes.

Dubas did some good things and is a good GM. From an outsider I would have loved to see him back, but to think there is a completely wrong answer here is just complaining for the sake of complaining.

It’s not like the leafs have to rebuild this team and bring in a guy that will build the makeup of this team. Besides the pressure, it’s an easy role to step into. Not often GMs get a chance to step onto a 110 point team.

I can’t understand the need to choose sides here.

Shanny knows more than we do behind the scenes.

Dubas did some good things and is a good GM. From an outsider I would have loved to see him back, but to think there is a completely wrong answer here is just complaining for the sake of complaining.

It’s not like the leafs have to rebuild this team and bring in a guy that will build the makeup of this team. Besides the pressure, it’s an easy role to step into. Not often GMs get a chance to step onto a 110 point team.
- Santo_44

Shanahan fired the GM that was good because he had a temper tantrum.

The team now has no GM with many critical decisions to be made and an absolute field of potatos to pick from.

It's not a need to pick sides, it's a conclusion based on a simple observation of the teams current standing.

Maybe some examples of other teams who have left themselves in similar positons and have positive results to show for it will make people not want to take that conclusion so seriously. 🤷

The leafs were laughed at pre-dubas cause they sucked and had no talent.
But because they sucked and kept their picks they got talent. Dubas may have improved some things for sure but suggest he made the leafs the place to be, not sure about that. FA's and players want a chance to win, with the talent the leafs drafted pre dubas, it helped changed the results.
I liked dubas, made some good trades, made some bad ones. But ultimately he failed.
With that said, dubas and shanny did make some positive changes
- Fakepartofme

Yes because all the credit failure or winning belongs to the GM.

I think you can and should separate the two. Dubas I think did well as GM of the leafs. I think the players failed him. Are they talented enough to win? Yes. Did Dubas do what he could to build around his superstars? Yes.

I can't ask for more of what Dubas did.

With that said he's not without mistakes or faults. I personally think the good outweighs the bad is all.

I'm sure we can both agree though that all this aside, it's a lot more fun having superstars than without them and hoping Bozak becomes one or that Tim Connelly somehow is not a walking bandaid.

I can’t understand the need to choose sides here.

Shanny knows more than we do behind the scenes.

Dubas did some good things and is a good GM. From an outsider I would have loved to see him back, but to think there is a completely wrong answer here is just complaining for the sake of complaining.

It’s not like the leafs have to rebuild this team and bring in a guy that will build the makeup of this team. Besides the pressure, it’s an easy role to step into. Not often GMs get a chance to step onto a 110 point team.
- Santo_44

"Besides the pressure". I think you're absolutely minimizing this. There's a lot to do and handle and how it's handled isn't easy.

You consider negotiating superstar talent contracts like Matthews easy? Or making the decision to possibly trade him/Marner? Those decisions and deals won't be easy.

Lots to handle and it's a GM that has less and less time to acclimate to the organization before having to make them.

For 9 years MLSE has been presenting this front of knowing what they are doing and all of a sudden they look like the joke they used to be. 5 days have undone 9 years of good faith/good will work.

Shanahan fired the GM that was good because he had a temper tantrum.

The team now has no GM with many critical decisions to be made and an absolute field of potatos to pick from.

It's not a need to pick sides, it's a conclusion based on a simple observation of the teams current standing.

Maybe some examples of other teams who have left themselves in similar positons and have positive results to show for it will make people not want to take that conclusion so seriously. 🤷
- joel878

But your observations arent based on facts.
"Temper tantrum"? What "temper tantrum"?
They had a deal in place...or most of the deal in place...then dubas publicly said he wasnt sure he wanted to be gm. Then decided he did but wanted to throw days/weeks of negotiations out the window and change the terms and money.
Shanny said no.
Many, many teams have fired gms after the playoffs. Many have had success
Its not the end of the world.
Maybe wait until they hire a gm before getting "its all over" dramatic?

Shanahan fired the GM that was good because he had a temper tantrum.

The team now has no GM with many critical decisions to be made and an absolute field of potatos to pick from.

It's not a need to pick sides, it's a conclusion based on a simple observation of the teams current standing.

Maybe some examples of other teams who have left themselves in similar positons and have positive results to show for it will make people not want to take that conclusion so seriously. 🤷
- joel878

Landing Babcock and Lamoriello was certainly not expected. Shanahan has proven that he can attract talented people. Babcock may not have worked out as hoped, but he was a huge name that no one figured would come to Toronto in that state. Same with Lou. I didn't love the Zaitsev or Marleau deals, but he did a lot of smart things to build up assets and help build the team and set a cultural change in tone.

Nothing says Shanahan can't pull that rabbit out again - because of his work in the NHL he does have decent ties.

I don't approve of the how or why he released Dubas, but that's my opinion, it means nothing at all. If they can move forward with quality people and keep the momentum they've built, then this may be the best thing for the organization and even Dubas' career.

"Besides the pressure". I think you're absolutely minimizing this. There's a lot to do and handle and how it's handled isn't easy.

You consider negotiating superstar talent contracts like Matthews easy? Or making the decision to possibly trade him/Marner? Those decisions and deals won't be easy.

Lots to handle and it's a GM that has less and less time to acclimate to the organization before having to make them.

For 9 years MLSE has been presenting this front of knowing what they are doing and all of a sudden they look like the joke they used to be. 5 days have undone 9 years of good faith/good will work.
- Aaron_85

How are they a joke?
They balked at the demands of a gm who continually failed in the playoffs.
5 days havent undone anything.
Its ok people.
Maybe wait to see who they hire and what direction they go in. Its not all over.....well hopefully losing every single year early in the playoffs (often to teams they were supposed to beat) is.

"Besides the pressure". I think you're absolutely minimizing this. There's a lot to do and handle and how it's handled isn't easy.

You consider negotiating superstar talent contracts like Matthews easy? Or making the decision to possibly trade him/Marner? Those decisions and deals won't be easy.

Lots to handle and it's a GM that has less and less time to acclimate to the organization before having to make them.

For 9 years MLSE has been presenting this front of knowing what they are doing and all of a sudden they look like the joke they used to be. 5 days have undone 9 years of good faith/good will work.
- Aaron_85

Bringing in talented players is hard.

The GM has the talent, and can make decisions with said talent.

Nothing is easy, but the GM is not tasked with what was given a decade ago, and that’s getting better players that Pa Paurenteau and Komarov for their top line.

Landing Babcock and Lamoriello was certainly not expected. Shanahan has proven that he can attract talented people. Babcock may not have worked out as hoped, but he was a huge name that no one figured would come to Toronto in that state. Same with Lou. I didn't love the Zaitsev or Marleau deals, but he did a lot of smart things to build up assets and help build the team and set a cultural change in tone.

Nothing says Shanahan can't pull that rabbit out again - because of his work in the NHL he does have decent ties.

I don't approve of the how or why he released Dubas, but that's my opinion, it means nothing at all. If they can move forward with quality people and keep the momentum they've built, then this may be the best thing for the organization and even Dubas' career.
- Monkeypunk

This is the type of mindset that I can accept.

I don’t know why anyone of us are trying to pretend we know more than we do.

Shanny having a temper tantrum? Good lord lol

How are they a joke?
They balked at the demands of a gm who continually failed in the playoffs.
5 days havent undone anything.
Its ok people.
Maybe wait to see who they hire and what direction they go in. Its not all over.....well hopefully losing every single year early in the playoffs (often to teams they were supposed to beat) is.
- Fakepartofme

You know how you balk at the demands of someone at the negotiating table? You say no and perhaps make a counteroffer. There was obviously more at play here. I get the sense that the three way relationship between Board, Shanny and Dubas was uncomfortable/not working leading to the end of the season and got worse. Shanny cut bait with Dubas and will probably hire the best buddy of the Chair. That’s not an indictment on him, it’s just corporate politics.

1. Sucks your sick. Get well.

2. Yeah I agree but it's all done now. Can't do anything else but look forward and to the positives. The playoffs are almost over so it means we should see some team trades and signings I hope. I hate that GMs seem to take the playoffs off from announcing cool trades.
- Aaron_85

Thank, man. And yeah, for sure. Feels kinda like the NHL doesn't want anything taken away from the games, though. And that while it's allowed, they'd prefer it happens once the Cup is awarded.

But your observations arent based on facts.
"Temper tantrum"? What "temper tantrum"?
They had a deal in place...or most of the deal in place...then dubas publicly said he wasnt sure he wanted to be gm. Then decided he did but wanted to throw days/weeks of negotiations out the window and change the terms and money.
Shanny said no.
Many, many teams have fired gms after the playoffs. Many have had success
Its not the end of the world.
Maybe wait until they hire a gm before getting "its all over" dramatic?
- Fakepartofme

So make your own phrasing. I don't care what you call it, making massive organizational impacting decisions from a self professed position of changing your mind on a whim is not how business is conducted.

Yes because all the credit failure or winning belongs to the GM.

I think you can and should separate the two. Dubas I think did well as GM of the leafs. I think the players failed him. Are they talented enough to win? Yes. Did Dubas do what he could to build around his superstars? Yes.

I can't ask for more of what Dubas did.

With that said he's not without mistakes or faults. I personally think the good outweighs the bad is all.

I'm sure we can both agree though that all this aside, it's a lot more fun having superstars than without them and hoping Bozak becomes one or that Tim Connelly somehow is not a walking bandaid.
- Aaron_85

I completely agree with the bolded. But it took several years for dubas to realize his strategy of finesse would win playoff games just wouldnt work. But to his credit (or maybe someone else's, dunno) he pivoted and begin going after players with sandpaper and talent.
I too liked what Dubas did as a GM and was hoping he would be extended, but Shanny called his bluff by the looks of it.
I just dont believe the leafs have been left devasted or are in this one of a kind horrible position.
Shanny is now on the hot seat, who he hires and how the leafs do in subsequent playoffs will determine his fate.
He's been able to hire talent before, nothing says he cant again.

What position?
Looking for a new gm after the previous one had no playoff success and tried to hold out for more money?

Hope you get well soon
- Fakepartofme

Yes. Wasting time looking for a new GM when they were about to hand the last one 5 years. But changed their minds in the span of 3 or 4 days all because Shanahan had a hissyfit.

Time would've been much better spent looking for a new coach and getting prepped to go.

But now they're interviewing the worst of the worst of the recently fired morons for GM and Brunette, arguably the best candidate for coaching, signed elsewhere.

Thanks, man. Antibiotics are working well, at least. Pills a (frank)ing huge, though.