Dear Kyle Dubas: take a year off, writes MikeMcKenna56 If the LeafsForever GM job put strain on Dubas' family, McKenna believes it would be wise to think like Barry Trotz a year ago and wait for the perfect opportunity:
Only fools rush in. We’ve all heard that phrase. And it keeps coming to mind when I think of Kyle Dubas’ future in hockey.After being unceremoniously – and very publicly – let go by Leafs President Brendan Shanahan, Dubas has just experienced a seismic life shift. One that he even said was a possibility at the conclusion of Toronto’s 2022-23 NHL season.
That’s fine. It’s business after all. As an ex-player, I heard that phrase constantly. I learned to accept it. But I didn’t always like it. Whether Dubas deserves all the blame is up for debate. I happen to think he did a solid job. Did Dubas make mistakes? Absolutely. Did he learn and grow over his nine-year tenure in the Leafs organization? No question. I believe Dubas’ best days in management are ahead of him.
Shanahan got cold feet in part because he wasn’t sure Dubas was all-in on being the Maple Leafs GM. If Dubas were to take a job this summer, I’m not sure how serious anyone would take his word in the future. And in today’s world, perception is reality.“I guess Kyle’s family didn’t matter after all…”I mean, go on down the list. And you know what? I guess it really doesn’t matter. It’s up to Dubas to make a decision on his NHL future. He’s still viewed as a rising star.
But as Dubas alluded to, being a GM in Toronto – the world’s craziest hockey market – takes an immense toll. It’s a grinding, high-pressure gig that inevitably brings more sorrow than joy. Only one team can win the Stanley Cup. And with the unrelenting expectations of the Toronto marketplace, winning a championship is exceedingly difficult.
But Trotz said no. He interviewed. He was offered jobs. But he chose to stay away for a year. And look what came of it. Trotz now has his dream job as GM of the Predators. He played his cards perfectly. And he even got to enjoy a stress-free season for the first time in decades.
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