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Maple Leafs GM: It’s Toronto or nowhere next season

Jan 29, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) receives a commemorative hockey stick from Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas for his1000th NHL game ceremony against the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Monday that he’ll either return to Toronto or sit out the 2023-24 season.

It was a significant assertion, given that Dubas has been linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins GM vacancy.

Dubas’ contract is up with Toronto and he said it’ll be a “family decision” as to whether he returns as GM, adding he’ll also be engaged with Toronto president Brendan Shanahan.

“It will either be here, or it will be taking time to recalibrate on the season here,” Dubas told reporters Monday. “You won’t see me next week popping up elsewhere, I can’t put them through that.”

Dubas has been general manager for the past five seasons and Toronto has finished more than 10 games above .500 in each of his campaigns. He was the assistant GM the previous four seasons.

They logged 111 points this season, fourth best in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs finally won a playoff series for the first time since 2003-04 by eliminating Tampa Bay, but they’re coming off a bitter loss to the Florida Panthers.

Regarding the roster, Dubas said he’s “interested in doing anything” to improve the roster, pointing to what the Panthers did last year with the Matthew Tkachuk trade.

“I would take nothing off the table at all.”

–Field Level Media

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