Kyle Dubas is new Leafs GM

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I think Hunter has played a huge part in the success of the Marlies and the draft picks he's made that have seamlessly made the leap to the Leafs. I've been impressed with the kids in the system since Hunter came aboard. Certainly Hunter doesn't deserve all the credit, but man oh man I'd hate to see some other team pick him up.

That's a bit of an overstatement. He argued for Marner in 2015 when he and Dubas co-managed the draft before Lou and Babcock wanted Hanafin. (Dubas traded down remember to get the picks to select Bracco and Dermott.) Three years out though only Marner and Dermott have made any impact at the NHL with Bracco and Timashov beginning to produce in the AHL, although Bracco has been a healthy scratch at times during these playoffs.

In 2016 and 2017 he seemed to be the guy in charge at the draft, so let's look at his picks.

2016

* Yegor Korshkov
* Carl Grundstrom (Looks like a good pick in limited time with Marlies.)
* Joseph Woll
* James Greenway
* Adam Brooks (Had an underwhelming first pro season with limited minutes, room to grow as a player and a pro, still has upside though.)
* Keaton Middleton
* Vladimir Bobylev
* Jack Walker
* Nicolas Mattinen
* Nikolai Chebykin

The rest of that is a huge bag of meh so far.

2017

Ryan O?Connell
Ryan McGregor
Fedor Gordeev (Promising, but having extreme Jake Gardiner type growing pains transition from F to D.)
Vladislav Kara
Ian Scott
Eemeli Rasanen
Timothy Liljegren (Very promising as an 18y/o in the AHL, but likely still at least a year away from the NHL.)

So basically, Hunter's impact on the AHL has been Bracco, Timashov, Brooks and Liljegren in depth roles and Dermott who Dubas traded down for as the most meaningful piece. Grundstrom could need a season in the AHL too potentially.

At the NHL outside of Marner and Matthews who both seemed like slam-dunk picks at the time, he hasn't produced massively in three drafts.

I don't write all this to have a pop at you Redleaf, I just wanted to be clear on what exactly Hunter did, the media has painted his as a scouting God and we've yet to fully see that.

 

[herman]

You should also highlight the guys taken after our picks in those two drafts.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/994926852291559424

Shanny leaning haaaard into the "Dubas is one of you hockey dudes, Dubas is worthy" pitch.

 

[bustaheims]

That's a bit of an overstatement. He argued for Marner in 2015 when he and Dubas co-managed the draft before Lou and Babcock wanted Hanafin. (Dubas traded down remember to get the picks to select Bracco and Dermott.) Three years out though only Marner and Dermott have made any impact at the NHL with Bracco and Timashov beginning to produce in the AHL, although Bracco has been a healthy scratch at times during these playoffs.

Yeah. I think Hunter might be at his best when he has someone above him who holds a differing opinion, and he really has to defend his opinions - and I get the impression he didn't have that so much w/ Lou. With Dubas, it certainly appears as though he might.

 

[Zee]

That's a bit of an overstatement. He argued for Marner in 2015 when he and Dubas co-managed the draft before Lou and Babcock wanted Hanafin. (Dubas traded down remember to get the picks to select Bracco and Dermott.) Three years out though only Marner and Dermott have made any impact at the NHL with Bracco and Timashov beginning to produce in the AHL, although Bracco has been a healthy scratch at times during these playoffs.

Yeah. I think Hunter might be at his best when he has someone above him who holds a differing opinion, and he really has to defend his opinions - and I get the impression he didn't have that so much w/ Lou. With Dubas, it certainly appears as though he might.

If he stays beyond this year.  If he doesn't, I'm sure Dubas is smart enough to hire someone else with a nose for talent.  I'm just wondering if we've now finally seen the last of the "real gud pros" that Babcock so favors but who can't actually contribute offensively.

 

[herman]

Will the Leafs be a slower team next season due to a sharp rise in the hairflow drag coefficient? Sports at 6.

 

[Coco-puffs]

That's a bit of an overstatement. He argued for Marner in 2015 when he and Dubas co-managed the draft before Lou and Babcock wanted Hanafin. (Dubas traded down remember to get the picks to select Bracco and Dermott.) Three years out though only Marner and Dermott have made any impact at the NHL with Bracco and Timashov beginning to produce in the AHL, although Bracco has been a healthy scratch at times during these playoffs.

Yeah. I think Hunter might be at his best when he has someone above him who holds a differing opinion, and he really has to defend his opinions - and I get the impression he didn't have that so much w/ Lou. With Dubas, it certainly appears as though he might.

If he stays beyond this year.  If he doesn't, I'm sure Dubas is smart enough to hire someone else with a nose for talent.  I'm just wondering if we've now finally seen the last of the "real gud pros" that Babcock so favors but who can't actually contribute offensively.

I doubt it.  Among the forward group, I think Dubas' prior experience running skilled and fast 4th lines means we'll likely not have guys who can't contribute offensively.  But on defense, there are only so many guys who are two-way d-men (or just offensive d-men). 

Do I expect Polak back?  No.  Would I expect Dubas to get someone like Hjalmarsson if he could?  Yes. 

 

[Bender]

The big question now is what does Hunter do... and the answer is I don't care.

Has he even realistically done a good job drafting?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think that's a little harsh.  Everything I read about Hunter suggests he's a solid hockey guy in terms of talent assessment.

Sure, but if he doesn't want to be here... especially if it's because he's upset he didn't get this job when it was clear from day one that Dubas was the front runner for it... then I'm not going to shed any tears. Replacing him won't be impossible.

 

[cabber24]

That's a bit of an overstatement. He argued for Marner in 2015 when he and Dubas co-managed the draft before Lou and Babcock wanted Hanafin. (Dubas traded down remember to get the picks to select Bracco and Dermott.) Three years out though only Marner and Dermott have made any impact at the NHL with Bracco and Timashov beginning to produce in the AHL, although Bracco has been a healthy scratch at times during these playoffs.

Yeah. I think Hunter might be at his best when he has someone above him who holds a differing opinion, and he really has to defend his opinions - and I get the impression he didn't have that so much w/ Lou. With Dubas, it certainly appears as though he might.

If he stays beyond this year.  If he doesn't, I'm sure Dubas is smart enough to hire someone else with a nose for talent.  I'm just wondering if we've now finally seen the last of the "real gud pros" that Babcock so favors but who can't actually contribute offensively....

.....or defensively.

 

[bustaheims]

I doubt it.  Among the forward group, I think Dubas' prior experience running skilled and fast 4th lines means we'll likely not have guys who can't contribute offensively.  But on defense, there are only so many guys who are two-way d-men (or just offensive d-men). 

Do I expect Polak back?  No.  Would I expect Dubas to get someone like Hjalmarsson if he could?  Yes.

I think that's probably a fair assessment. We'll see less of the "traditional" types to fill those roles, but, with Babcock behind the bench, there will still be a need to have guys who can still play that style effectively - they'll just be better with the puck than the Polak's of the league.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Does anyone want to put money down on Nick Kypreo's "sources" now?

"According to Kypreos? sources it?s Dubas? colleague Mark Hunter is the most likely candidate to succeed Lamoriello as Leafs GM."

Good one Nick, good one.

Kypreos' report on that kinda got interpreted by people writing headlines. All he said was that other executives around the league felt that Hunter was the most likely candidate because of his experience and blah blah blah. He never said he had any inside information from the Leafs suggesting Hunter was the favourite.

 

[Zee]

Does anyone want to put money down on Nick Kypreo's "sources" now?

"According to Kypreos? sources it?s Dubas? colleague Mark Hunter is the most likely candidate to succeed Lamoriello as Leafs GM."

Good one Nick, good one.

Kypreos' report on that kinda got interpreted by people writing headlines. All he said was that other executives around the league felt that Hunter was the most likely candidate because of his experience and blah blah blah. He never said he had any inside information from the Leafs suggesting Hunter was the favourite.

I don't care, I like throwing stuff in his face.  ;D

 

[cabber24]

But seriously this is cool. Shanahan had a plan and actually stuck to it. No more desperation moves from a desperate franchise.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/THNKenCampbell/status/991109794651131904

If you ever needed a more resounding endorsement...

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I think that's a little harsh.  Everything I read about Hunter suggests he's a solid hockey guy in terms of talent assessment.

Sure, but if he doesn't want to be here... especially if it's because he's upset he didn't get this job when it was clear from day one that Dubas was the front runner for it... then I'm not going to shed any tears. Replacing him won't be impossible.

My thoughts exactly.  I'd rather Hunter walk than Dubas. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/THNKenCampbell/status/991109794651131904

If you ever needed a more resounding endorsement...

Oh my god I knew Campbell has had a couple terrible Ovechkin-takes recently so I searched for one to mockingly post and today just happens to be the one-year anniversary of this absolute gem:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/ovechkin-is-no-longer-a-significant-factor-and-for-that-reason-shouldn-t-be-blamed-for-loss

Alex Ovechkin just isn't the difference maker he once was, and continues to take on a diminished role. So another Capitals defeat can't be blamed solely on him.

For those who would prefer to spend today ripping on Alex Ovechkin as the root of all the Washington Capitals? playoff ills, the evidence is very clear and even more damning. On not one, but both of the Pittsburgh Penguins? goals in their 2-0 win over the Capitals in Game 7, Ovechkin is about as soft on the puck and his man in the defensive zone as any forward can possibly be. He?s indefensibly soft and laissez-faire, doing nothing but taking a half-hearted, one-handed swing at the puck on the first goal and not doing near enough to battle to get the puck out of the zone on the giveaway by (who else?) Kevin Shattenkirk on the second.

...

Because the fact is Ovechkin has ceased to become a significant factor for the Capitals. He hasn?t been one for a while now.

 

[herman]

I'm trying to remember which press conference someone asked Babcock (or a Leaf) a really poop emoji question, and it turned out to be the ol' Soup Ken.

 

[cabber24]

DEE-FENSE!.... DEE-FENSE!...... DEE-FENSE!... DEE-FENSE!

 

[herman]

Low-key great news coming out of this: Dubas' best friend in the front office is Brandon Pridham.