>“The biggest mistake I think I’ve made in my whole time here has been not taking care of the three incumbent contracts (of Matthews, Marner and Nylander before signing Tavares),” Dubas says in the book. “The thing I learned was that once we signed John to the (deal) we did, it lifted the lid on the entire ceiling.”
>The idea that Dubas needed to make such a fundamental mistake to learn a concept that amounts to common sense is a head shaker. You didn’t need a PhD in quantum physics to figure that, after paying Tavares $11 million, the Leafs would be locked into paying Matthews even more and Marner in the same neighbourhood. Somehow, Dubas spins that outcome as a revelation, and another in a line of learning experiences.
MaximumSamage
“But not for the reason you might think.”
This is the exact reason that came to mind when I read the title.
Hefty_Meringue8694
Not justifying his thinking at all because it’s pretty obvious…
But I wonder if he thought he had to pay a premium for Tavares being captain and didn’t think Marner would be in the same ballpark cause he’s paying Tavares for “talent and leadership” and not just talent.
Either way, it’s an obvious fuck up on his part signing Tavares for as much as he did
CDL112281
I don’t think that’s an obvious jump.
Tavares was the top UFA on the market. We know those guys get paid top dollar..and usually too much. Looking back, he probably didn’t need to be signed, but when the top UFA wants to sign with you and might be taking less than the open market…how do you say no? I understand 100% why he signed Tavares
Marner, Matthews were both coming off ELCs.
Dubas absolutely did NOT have to sign them to 5,6-year deals at $11m.
They could have done bridge deals, show-me deals. 3year, $27m deals. Whatever.
Dubas got worked on this
mattcojo2
By cap hit, he remains the 2nd highest paid free agent in NHL history by AAV, only outclassed by Artemi Panarin, a player who was much younger at the time of his signing.
Tavares is a great player. Nobody disputes that. But the timing of his signing (along with various issues plaguing Mike Babcock) made the signing horrific, because it hamstrung the team with its existing young players who wanted more. Particularly Marner and Matthews who both signed for 10 million plus at the time.
The leafs have 4 of the 12 largest contracts by AAV in hockey. All are paid to forwards. That’s not sustainable.
No_Bank_330
…and Tavares money could have been put towards a second pair on defense.
Does he have any revelations on goaltending or is that still analytics?
Spade18
“I should have signed him for more”
millsy1010
What about when he traded a first round pick for nick foligno at the trade deadline and the only goal he scored for them was an empty netter and then he left that offseason
Penz_YaPigeon
Most overated GM in the game right now. Took that learning and went and acquired a non moveable contract in EK. Any hockey fan has clearly seen that EK needs an entire system to go through him and his defensive awareness is abysmal. Additionally we go out and trade for Kevin Hayes. Just an absolute trash GM.
Dull-Objective3967
That’s what happens when you believe your own hype.
burger333
All feelings aside, I really never understood that contract for them. I mean it’s sexy, but if you want to win a championship, you need to have quality defense and/or goaltending.
kstacey
Yep, he understood his mistake, and ditched town to not face the consequences of these choices and expected more control after zero success. Just like how he negotiated those contracts
931634
Well, enjoy repeating it with Sid.
3 x 10 .. at his age 😂😂😂
iamonewhoami
At the point in time Tavares signed, he was better. He was also a UFA. That isn’t true for AM or MM. AM missing games speaks to his resiliency, and should factor in contract negotiations as much as preformance when playing. MM’s comparables (like Point in Tampa) are poor.
Thing is the Tavares signing isn’t even Dubas’ worst mistake. Look at the trades, and letting players like Marchment walk. His over investment in finesse is the reason this team continuously crumbles in the playoffs.
Akatsukilove
Dubas probably got caught up courting Tavares as there were reports that the Sharks were offering 13mil X 7 years. If anything, he got him at a discount, but he like he admits he should’ve locked down the contracts for their RFAs first
ToweringIsle27
Not for the reason you might think.
But not *not* for the reason you were already thinking!
lukinfly45
Isles fan here, I’ve moved on from Johnny leaving, but this move has never helped the leafs. All it did was tie up there cap when the pandemic hit and he had never been more than what he already was with the isles. When he left, I thought he would become a 90-100 point scorer yearly. It just never happened. I know JT is happy he is home, but if they don’t win it this year. He will have no legacy and his own home town fans will hate him if they don’t already.
MadGeller
🍻🏅🥇
shadownet97
We might end up seeing a Dubas-Benning duo if some team is stupid enough in the further to hire both of them.
Oh man, as long as it’s not my team, that’ll be a gong show to watch
19 Comments
>“The biggest mistake I think I’ve made in my whole time here has been not taking care of the three incumbent contracts (of Matthews, Marner and Nylander before signing Tavares),” Dubas says in the book. “The thing I learned was that once we signed John to the (deal) we did, it lifted the lid on the entire ceiling.”
>The idea that Dubas needed to make such a fundamental mistake to learn a concept that amounts to common sense is a head shaker. You didn’t need a PhD in quantum physics to figure that, after paying Tavares $11 million, the Leafs would be locked into paying Matthews even more and Marner in the same neighbourhood. Somehow, Dubas spins that outcome as a revelation, and another in a line of learning experiences.
“But not for the reason you might think.”
This is the exact reason that came to mind when I read the title.
Not justifying his thinking at all because it’s pretty obvious…
But I wonder if he thought he had to pay a premium for Tavares being captain and didn’t think Marner would be in the same ballpark cause he’s paying Tavares for “talent and leadership” and not just talent.
Either way, it’s an obvious fuck up on his part signing Tavares for as much as he did
I don’t think that’s an obvious jump.
Tavares was the top UFA on the market. We know those guys get paid top dollar..and usually too much. Looking back, he probably didn’t need to be signed, but when the top UFA wants to sign with you and might be taking less than the open market…how do you say no? I understand 100% why he signed Tavares
Marner, Matthews were both coming off ELCs.
Dubas absolutely did NOT have to sign them to 5,6-year deals at $11m.
They could have done bridge deals, show-me deals. 3year, $27m deals. Whatever.
Dubas got worked on this
By cap hit, he remains the 2nd highest paid free agent in NHL history by AAV, only outclassed by Artemi Panarin, a player who was much younger at the time of his signing.
Tavares is a great player. Nobody disputes that. But the timing of his signing (along with various issues plaguing Mike Babcock) made the signing horrific, because it hamstrung the team with its existing young players who wanted more. Particularly Marner and Matthews who both signed for 10 million plus at the time.
The leafs have 4 of the 12 largest contracts by AAV in hockey. All are paid to forwards. That’s not sustainable.
…and Tavares money could have been put towards a second pair on defense.
Does he have any revelations on goaltending or is that still analytics?
“I should have signed him for more”
What about when he traded a first round pick for nick foligno at the trade deadline and the only goal he scored for them was an empty netter and then he left that offseason
Most overated GM in the game right now. Took that learning and went and acquired a non moveable contract in EK. Any hockey fan has clearly seen that EK needs an entire system to go through him and his defensive awareness is abysmal. Additionally we go out and trade for Kevin Hayes. Just an absolute trash GM.
That’s what happens when you believe your own hype.
All feelings aside, I really never understood that contract for them. I mean it’s sexy, but if you want to win a championship, you need to have quality defense and/or goaltending.
Yep, he understood his mistake, and ditched town to not face the consequences of these choices and expected more control after zero success. Just like how he negotiated those contracts
Well, enjoy repeating it with Sid.
3 x 10 .. at his age 😂😂😂
At the point in time Tavares signed, he was better. He was also a UFA. That isn’t true for AM or MM. AM missing games speaks to his resiliency, and should factor in contract negotiations as much as preformance when playing. MM’s comparables (like Point in Tampa) are poor.
Thing is the Tavares signing isn’t even Dubas’ worst mistake. Look at the trades, and letting players like Marchment walk. His over investment in finesse is the reason this team continuously crumbles in the playoffs.
Dubas probably got caught up courting Tavares as there were reports that the Sharks were offering 13mil X 7 years. If anything, he got him at a discount, but he like he admits he should’ve locked down the contracts for their RFAs first
Not for the reason you might think.
But not *not* for the reason you were already thinking!
Isles fan here, I’ve moved on from Johnny leaving, but this move has never helped the leafs. All it did was tie up there cap when the pandemic hit and he had never been more than what he already was with the isles. When he left, I thought he would become a 90-100 point scorer yearly. It just never happened. I know JT is happy he is home, but if they don’t win it this year. He will have no legacy and his own home town fans will hate him if they don’t already.
🍻🏅🥇
We might end up seeing a Dubas-Benning duo if some team is stupid enough in the further to hire both of them.
Oh man, as long as it’s not my team, that’ll be a gong show to watch