Former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas breaks his silence after being dismissed by Brendan Shanahan
The Leafs shocked the hockey world on Friday when team President Brendan Shanahan announced that the club would not be bringing GM Kyle Dubas back for another term.
The decision came following a breakdown in negotiations and a Dubas media availability following his team's elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Per Shanahan, who advised Dubas not to speak in the first place, what the now former Leafs GM had to say during his season-ending presser altered how he felt about bringing Dubas back. That, in combination with a late set of changes proposed to a supposed 5-year extension that was nearly complete were enough for Shanahan to pivot and experience a change of heart about bringing his GM back.
Dubas refused to speak with the media last week and over the weekend, but did offer an official statement regarding his dismissal on Tuesday. Here's what the 37-year-old free agent executive had to say:
In the nine seasons since being afforded the opportunity to work in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, we have had the chance to learn a lot and have grown significantly through the ups and downs. We have watched our family double in size while developing meaningful relationships which will last a lifetime. It was an honour to be able to work in such an inspiring place, with dedicated, loyal people and an extremely passionate fanbase. The impact of that and the relationships with all of the people at MLSE, from the board of directors through to the ushers at Scotiabank Arena, will forever hold a dear place in our hearts. To the players, coaches and staff at the facility each day, past and present, thank you for your passion and commitment at every step of the journey together. It was a tremendous pleasure to work alongside you each day. We will roll from here.
- The Dubas Family"
Dubas did not utter one single word about Brendan Shanahan, which is pretty telling about where their relationship stands at this point. Other than that, it was a pretty typical statement that you'd expect to see someone make following their departure after a lengthy stint with a team.
I'd imagine that, at some point, Dubas will share his side of the story, but for now, all we have is his very diplomatic statement as he quite obviously looks to take the high road - at least for now.
