Why Kyle Dubas needs to be willing to spend at the trade deadline

Dubas' preference has never been rental players, and he got burned when trading a first round pick for Nick Foligno, who ended up being injured for almost his entire tenure with the Leafs and was playing at 60 or 70 percent the rest of the way. Of course, the price is higher for players that have term left on their contract or have team control (RFA status), but this is the year that Dubas should be willing to pay it. At the same time, Dubas should do everything he can to hold onto this year's first round pick as this is projected to be a very deep draft, but if it comes down to acquiring a game-breaking player, particularly a second line left winger, he should sacrifice the pick.

The Lightning traded two first round picks for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow and another two for Brandon Hagel. All of which had or have term left on their contracts and all were/are impact players for the Lightning in the playoffs. The cost to acquire those players was offset by winning back-to-back Cups and making the Stanley Cup Finals three years in a row. For Dubas and the Leafs, the cost to acquire someone like Tyler Bertuzzi or Ryan O'Reilly would be offset by just making it the land beyond round 1.

As Dubas himself is a free agent at the end of the season, this could be his last chance to show that his plan is going to work. If he already knows he won't be back, he should just say "screw it" and spend as much future capital as possible to give the Leafs the best chance in the playoffs (excluding Matthew Knies, who I believe they'll hold onto at all costs). It will be an interesting few months until the trade deadline to see how, exactly, Dubas upgrades this roster without disrupting the chemistry the team has in order to make a push for a Stanley Cup.