Kyle Dubas will not return as Toronto Maple Leafs GM

According to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman late Friday morning and confirmed by the team shortly thereafter, Kyle Dubas’ tenure as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs is coming to an end.

Dubas, 37, did not have a contract in place for 2023-24. He spoke with media this week as part of the Leafs’ season-ending availability and explained that he was unsure about returning to the role, assuming the team wanted him back, because of the toll the high-pressure job had taken on his family.

“It requires me to have a full family discussion,” Dubas said Monday. “My family is a hugely important part of what I do. So for me to commit to anything without having a fuller understanding of what this year took on them, it’s probably unfair for me to answer where I’m at.”

Dubas also indicated his job in 2023-24 “will either be here, or taking time to recalibrate, reflect on the seasons here. But you won’t see me next week pop up elsewhere. I can’t put them through that after this year.”

So if Dubas is true to his comments Monday, he won’t be surfacing with another NHL team in the weeks to come.

Dubas first joined the leafs in 2014 as assistant GM after working as GM of the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. He was promoted to the Leaf GM job, replacing Lou Lamoriello, starting in spring of 2018. Dubas’ most noteworthy moves included signing coveted free agent John Tavares in summer 2018 and blueliner T.J. Brodie in 2020. Under Dubas, the Leafs ended a 19-season playoff drought and a streak of six consecutive opening-round playoff exits when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games this postseason. Dubas made a stamp on the 2022-23 roster by acquiring six new regulars at the 2023 Trade Deadline, including center Ryan O’Reilly and defenseman Luke Schenn.

“I would like to thank Kyle for his unwavering dedication over these last nine seasons with the organization, including his last five as General Manager,” Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a team statement Friday. “Kyle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season. We wish Kyle and his family the best moving forward and thank him for his valuable contributions.”