Kyle Dubas Releases Statement After Firing From Toronto Maple Leafs

kyle dubas is taking the high road.

previous Maple Leafs The general manager, fired last week to end an astonishing five-day stint following Toronto’s second-round playoff elimination, issued a statement Tuesday on Twitter but did not elaborate on his firing.

Dubas, who began his rebuttal with a “go ahead” caption, abruptly received his exit papers on Friday to cap off a tumultuous period that began with a bizarre season-ending press conference in which the 37-year-old wondered if he wanted to continue in the role.

Leafs president Brendan Shanahan largely outlined the process that led him to fire Dubas during a news conference Friday afternoon, hours after Toronto announced it was “parting ways” with the general manager.

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Dubas out like Leafs GM

Shanahan said at the time that he advised Dubas, whose contract expired June 30, not to speak to reporters after the Leafs’ five-game loss to the Florida Panthers was unclear about the future.

Dubas said during the May 15 press conference that the 2022-23 season was difficult for his young family and that he needed time to assess his path.

Shanahan, who initially wanted to keep Dubas on board, said five days later in his media availability that he began to feel differently as the week progressed.

Shanahan said Dubas emailed him Thursday night saying he did want to continue as general manager, but that came after the team, again, according to its president, received increased contract demands.

At the time, Shanahan said that he had decided that the Original Six franchise needed a change.

“On the days that I felt I needed to assess and assess my own vision for the future, both in regards to the necessary direction of the club and ensuring that I had the full support of my family for what I knew would be necessary in the off-season and years following, the organization, as is its right, decided to go in a different direction,” Dubas said in his statement on social media.

Hired as an assistant general manager in 2014 at age 28 before being promoted to the top job in 2018 after Shanahan sidelined mentor and Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello, Dubas referenced his ups and downs in Toronto in the Tuesday statement.

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Kyle Dubas out: Leafs chairman says splitting with GM was his decision and not for money

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“It was an honor to be able to work in such an inspiring place, with dedicated and loyal people and an extremely passionate fan base,” he wrote. “The impact of that and the relationships with everyone at (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment), from the board of directors to the ushers at Scotiabank Arena, will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Toronto had unprecedented regular-season success under Dubas, but was unable to find playoff traction during his five years in charge until this spring when the Leafs won a series for the first time in nearly two decades before meekly retreating to Florida.

Dubas also thanked the coaches, players and staff on Twitter, but did not do the same for the Leafs, nor did he mention Shanahan by name.

“Thank you for your passion and commitment in every step of the journey together,” Dubas told his colleagues and players. “It was a tremendous pleasure working alongside you every day.

“Let’s roll from here.”

Dubas’s departure leaves a lot of questions in Toronto ahead of what could be an era-defining summer.

The Leafs’ new general manager will have to decide the fate of head coach and Dubas supporter Sheldon Keefe, while Auston Matthews and William Nylander can sign contract extensions starting July 1.

Matthews and fellow star Mitch Marner have full same-day no-movement clauses, while Nylander will have a 10-team roster. Matthews and Nylander can become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2024, while Marner’s deal runs through July 2025.

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