Lou Will Not Return
- Thread starter Guilt Trip
- Start date
herman
Well-known member
Zee said:
If they were aware that Hunter would be sour about Dubas stepping up ahead of him, they wouldn't have announced Lou's goodbye before the draft.
And going by Lou's opening presser 3 years ago where Dubas' name was mentioned as the GM-in-waiting, they've had a long time to get a feel for what Hunter wants.
herman
Well-known member
I think Dubas remains the top choice right now, but just going by the way this group seems to operate, philosophically, I think they're announcing Lou's departure to see what shakes loose around the league.
No gifts in the lineup, right? So when the time comes (post draft?), they'll put out the call for applicants, with Dubas and/or Hunter's likely at the top of the pile unless something crazy comes up (even as my top pick, I cannot definitively say that Kyle is the best NHL GM ever, having only nominally GMed for half a year?).
No gifts in the lineup, right? So when the time comes (post draft?), they'll put out the call for applicants, with Dubas and/or Hunter's likely at the top of the pile unless something crazy comes up (even as my top pick, I cannot definitively say that Kyle is the best NHL GM ever, having only nominally GMed for half a year?).
herman said:
This is all for show. They don't want to upstage Lou's announcement with the announcement of a new GM. Hunter or Dubas will be promoted by next week at the latest.
https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/991008629129007106
Kyle's name was said first.
Kyle's name was said first.
Zee
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
Perhaps, although if Shanahan had no plans for Dubas to be the immediate successor, it would seem strange that the Leafs held him back from the Colorado job when they came asking. That would probably tick Dubas off if he's suddenly stepped over, although I'm sure he'd have plenty of suitors that would hire him if the Leafs don't.
Guilt Trip
Active member
So do you want a licensed experienced electrician wiring your house or some fresh kid just out of school?Nik the Trik said:
Zee
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
But how many young GMs are just given an NHL job at 28 without ever being an NHL assistant GM at the very least? John Chayka? Not a good track record so far for him. I didn't mind Dubas having an "apprentice" role under Lou for a few seasons if for nothing else but to see how Lou interacted with established GMs and player agents.
Zee
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
Sure, he was AGM for less than a year when Nonis was fired. I believe Chayka was also AGM of the Coyotes for a year before they gave him the job at 26. I don't think there's anything wrong with a younger guy getting on the job experience from an experienced GM who's seen it all. The Leafs are in relatively good shape for the cap and have a roster of young players on the rise. I think the time is right for Dubas to now take over and bring this plan to fruition. I hope he's up to the task.
Kin
New member
Zee said:
And had been the GM of an OHL team before that. It's not a sparse resume outside of comparing it to league norms which, I'll argue, do a lot to perpetuate a certain group of mediocre lifelong NHL execs but aren't necessarily tied to requirements for success.
Zee said:
I think that's a grade A strawman. There's a world of difference between not thinking this "apprenticeship" was necessary and saying it was a bad thing. Although, for the sake of argument, I suppose that depends on whether or not you think that "experienced GM" is still, you know, good at the job(spoiler alert: I don't think he was).
Guilt Trip
Active member
Obviously Shanny didn't think he was ready when he hired Lou so it's a mute point. He brought in one of the most respected GM's to show Dubas the way. Dubas is getting the job. It's been the plan all along.Nik the Trik said:
https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/990998121046986752
herman
Well-known member
I didn't see any actually apprenticeshipping happening, at least not overtly. Osmosis, maybe.
The 'gravity' of Lou's reputation and his practice of team running certainly steered the conversation around the team during a delicate period of time.
The only thing it did was literally keep Dubas in the minors having significant success, much the way Kapanen and Johnsson were, until they couldn't keep them down any longer (which is very much in keeping with how this front office seemed to operate). Dubas built a lot of cachet in these 3 years.
I think Dubas could've done it from the get go (not without lumps, mind you). If anything, Babcock got to see 'Duby' at work without any direct confrontation and likely earned a lot of respect from the coach with the way the Marlies plugged into (and elevated) the Leafs immediately.
The 'gravity' of Lou's reputation and his practice of team running certainly steered the conversation around the team during a delicate period of time.
The only thing it did was literally keep Dubas in the minors having significant success, much the way Kapanen and Johnsson were, until they couldn't keep them down any longer (which is very much in keeping with how this front office seemed to operate). Dubas built a lot of cachet in these 3 years.
I think Dubas could've done it from the get go (not without lumps, mind you). If anything, Babcock got to see 'Duby' at work without any direct confrontation and likely earned a lot of respect from the coach with the way the Marlies plugged into (and elevated) the Leafs immediately.