Michael Stuart: GM Bracket Battle: Dubas vs. Treliving

Not trying to be troll here but seriously:

How are the Maple Leafs a "powerhouse" team?

Powerhouse team??. The leafs were so unbelievably terrible for so long that reaching mediocrity seems like being a contender. In all honesty Dubas hasn't done anything but sign his top 4 to contracts that's hindering this team from moving forward. Thankfully they're young enough that when the cap eventually goes up they will still be in their prime.
But they will also be up for new contracts and want raises.
He hasn't signed any big names besides JT or made any trades that have made this soft top heavy mediocre team better. But just my opinion

Not trying to be troll here but seriously:

How are the Maple Leafs a "powerhouse" team?
- TommyGTrain

The Leafs missed the playoffs falling to Columbus in the qualifying round. Does anybody remember them having playoff success.

Dubas has put together a team of figure skaters. They play pretty. But, when it matters they are no shows and it has been that way for a very long time.

The Leafs have been in steady decline since the day Dubas replaced Lamerillo.

Nothing better illustrates Dubas misreading of the situation than his signing Tavares and trading Kadri. So, so, naive.

Powerhouse team??. The leafs were so unbelievably terrible for so long that reaching mediocrity seems like being a contender. In all honesty Dubas hasn't done anything but sign his top 4 to contracts that's hindering this team from moving forward. Thankfully they're young enough that when the cap eventually goes up they will still be in their prime.
But they will also be up for new contracts and want raises.
He hasn't signed any big names besides JT or made any trades that have made this soft top heavy mediocre team better. But just my opinion
- brandxbeer138

Actually, not being biased by Treliving does an amazing job signing RFA players of his
. His one real achilles is the UFA market where he always seems to sign a Brouwer, Neal & hopefully this year it wont be Tanev to some yuch contracts. If he could just go fishing with no phone service just Free Agency frenzy he would be an amazing GM. His trades are thought out & usually very solid & drafting has been real solid as well.

I would put the resigning of RFA's as a huge edge to Tre over Dubas because for the life of me how he has handled Matthews & Marner & Nylander has really handicapped the Leafs from taking the next step imo. How do you become so cap strapped when you have elite players on or just coming off ELC's?

Actually, not being biased by Treliving does an amazing job signing RFA players of his
. His one real achilles is the UFA market where he always seems to sign a Brouwer, Neal & hopefully this year it wont be Tanev to some yuch contracts. If he could just go fishing with no phone service just Free Agency frenzy he would be an amazing GM. His trades are thought out & usually very solid & drafting has been real solid as well.

I would put the resigning of RFA's as a huge edge to Tre over Dubas because for the life of me how he has handled Matthews & Marner & Nylander has really handicapped the Leafs from taking the next step imo. How do you become so cap strapped when you have elite players on or just coming off ELC's?
- Kevin R

Well they thought they would win every game 10 to 8. Leafs have a lot of whole that deep teams can easily expose. Simmonds and Joe are not going to help.

Dubas at least has a vision for his team. Tre is in the wilderness plucking whoever comes available from the teams he reads the most about in the local papers (that's what passes for scouting in Calgary I guess).

Actually, not being biased by Treliving does an amazing job signing RFA players of his
. His one real achilles is the UFA market where he always seems to sign a Brouwer, Neal & hopefully this year it wont be Tanev to some yuch contracts. If he could just go fishing with no phone service just Free Agency frenzy he would be an amazing GM. His trades are thought out & usually very solid & drafting has been real solid as well.

I would put the resigning of RFA's as a huge edge to Tre over Dubas because for the life of me how he has handled Matthews & Marner & Nylander has really handicapped the Leafs from taking the next step imo. How do you become so cap strapped when you have elite players on or just coming off ELC's?
- Kevin R

Nylander's deal is actually very good for the team. The others are fair...which sucks.

The Leafs missed the playoffs falling to Columbus in the qualifying round. Does anybody remember them having playoff success.

Dubas has put together a team of figure skaters. They play pretty. But, when it matters they are no shows and it has been that way for a very long time.

The Leafs have been in steady decline since the day Dubas replaced Lamerillo.

Nothing better illustrates Dubas misreading of the situation than his signing Tavares and trading Kadri. So, so, naive.
- spatso

- GreatGigInTheSky

He's right though. Dubas signed JT and the rebuild was over. He forgot about defence and a bottom 6. Besides drafting Mathews, marner and Nylander (which anyone with access to the internet could have done) he really hasn't done much else.

He's right though. Dubas signed JT and the rebuild was over. He forgot about defence and a bottom 6. Besides drafting Mathews, marner and Nylander (which anyone with access to the internet could have done) he really hasn't done much else.
- brandxbeer138

He's completely and entirely wrong, actually. (As he literally always is)

Snakevares >>>> Kardi. The Leafs are 100% undeniably a better team with him and that will continue going forward.

The rebuild ended almost immediately after they drafted Matthews because they made the playoff right away.

People keep saying that defense was forgotten. Ok, who was available that would've completely solidified the Leafs blue line? Pietrangelo and that's it and it was in this Covid times and no games have been played since.

He's completely and entirely wrong, actually. (As he literally always is)

Snakevares >>>> Kardi. The Leafs are 100% undeniably a better team with him and that will continue going forward.

The rebuild ended almost immediately after they drafted Matthews because they made the playoff right away.

People keep saying that defense was forgotten. Ok, who was available that would've completely solidified the Leafs blue line? Pietrangelo and that's it and it was in this Covid times and no games have been played since.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I agree Taveres is better than Kadri. But the issue is Dubas never replaced Kadri or what he brought. No one knows mediocrity or missing a couple players from being a real contender more than Habs fans. It's a terrible place to be. Never quite good enough to go deep in the playoffs and never quite bad enough to draft a high pick. Just hope the cap is high enough when your young guns are up for their new contracts....

I agree Taveres is better than Kadri. But the issue is Dubas never replaced Kadri or what he brought. No one knows mediocrity or missing a couple players from being a real contender more than Habs fans. It's a terrible place to be. Never quite good enough to go deep in the playoffs and never quite bad enough to draft a high pick. Just hope the cap is high enough when your young guns are up for their new contracts....
- brandxbeer138

Who would you rather have on your roster, Tavares at $11m or Kadri at $4.5m? Nobody is going to dispute that Tavares is the better high skilled player. But the Leafs already had Matthews. Give me the warrior Kadri going up against Columbus in the playoffs. I know that Kadri may have had some discipline issues. But the Leafs are just way too soft.

Dubas, we know, disagrees. I believe he is wrong.

Dubas might be entirely right on the skill of the player (Tavares). But entirely wrong in understanding the needs of the team.

So Daly is quoted as saying that the target date for season start is still January 1.

Only 7 weeks from now.

Ambitious.

Not trying to be troll here but seriously:

How are the Maple Leafs a "powerhouse" team?
- TommyGTrain

They put up the 8th best points percentage during the season.

They put up the 8th best points percentage during the season.
- Michael Stuart

Only in Toronto. Fans and media gather pregame to high five one another while they chant "we're #8."

Dubas at least has a vision for his team. Tre is in the wilderness plucking whoever comes available from the teams he reads the most about in the local papers (that's what passes for scouting in Calgary I guess).
- OilyJay

This is so laughable! An Oilers fan crapping on Calgary's GM and Calgary's ability to scout and build a team. You have to be seriously stoned out of your head. Do you want to compare Calgary's drafting (not counting 1st overalls - because we have NEVER had one of those - unlike the 6 or 7 or whatever it is that you guys are gifted on a regular basis) and team building to Edmonton"s? Well go look it up - I'm not doing the work for you but I will give you some names that you can start with: Mangiapane, Andersson, Valimaki, Dube, Gaudreau, Wolf, Lindholm (trade), Hanifin (trade), Tkachuk, Giordano. I can keep going - but that should keep you busy. I'll also give you a head start on the Oiler's for comparison: McDavid, Drasaitl, Klefbom.........................that's about it.