If Dubas does decide to walk away, it will put the Leafs in a very difficult position. The Buds have contract extensions coming due for both
Auston Matthews and
William Nylander on July 1st. Not only does Matthews have a no-movement clause that kicks in on July 1st, but Nylander has a modified NTC that kicks in on the same date, which will allow him to submit a 10-team no-trade list to the Leafs, which could make it slightly more difficult to move him in the event that he is identified as the core piece that management and ownership want moved. Not only that, but
Mitch Marner also has a full no-movement clause kicking in on July 1st as well, which will cover him over the final 2 years of his contract.