The shit is hitting the fan in Toronto

This morning, I listened to Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman’s podcast (32 Thoughts) and enjoyed it. After all, it’s always good, but these days, it’s essential to listen to them. Why is that? Because they’re plugged into Toronto.

And because the shit’s hot in Toronto.

The more I listened, the clearer it became. There’s no other way to put it at the moment, as the club doesn’t seem to have a clear captain.

You know as well as I do that when a boss leaves, it makes the people around him nervous. Why is that? Because we don’t know whether the new boss will improve things or not. Remember that Jason Spezza left of his own free will.

All this to say that we learn in the podcast that, apart from the people at the top of the pyramid, the Maple Leafs’ employees are surprised. We didn’t expect him to leave.

Why wasn’t he? Because he said he wanted to stay and come to work. These are good signs.

That’s why people are divided. On the one hand, the “Shanaplan” supporters say that the President was clear and laid his cards on the table last Friday.

And on the other? Dubas’ followers, who were said to be respectful, are in shock.

Does this mean that employees were so divided between the two bosses? Perhaps that’s what we can deduce when we listen to Elliotte Friedman speak this morning.

If there really was such a division between the two men, is it any wonder that Dubas was fired, even though he told his boss he wanted to come back?

It must have something to do with it.

Perhaps on Monday, he was publicly hesitant because he knew the structure in place wasn’t ideal. After all, Friedman heard people say that Dubas didn’t like having to go through Shanahan, who blocked certain decisions as well as imposing others on him.

According to Friedman, when a big decision had to take place, Dubas had to talk to Shanahan, who would talk to his bosses. The owners would discuss it, give instructions to Shanahan, who would then talk to Dubas.

And according to many, the GM didn’t like it.

After all, in his opinion, it lengthened deadlines. What’s more, if Shanahan wanted to leave something out for his GM, he could do so in peace, couldn’t he?

Did Shanahan decide to fire Dubas when he saw that he wanted more money, but more importantly, full control? Perhaps, yes.

This may explain, in part, why Toronto is in a panic. After all, that changed overnight, since the buzz through the branches last week was that Dubas was coming back.

Already, some of the players have been quite scathing in their comments to management at the end of the season, and some of them must be dreading the arrival of the next GM, who won’t have any personal ties or connections to hold them back from trading a star.

Auston Matthews is a case in point. After all, some people think it was improbable enough to think he’d sign long-term in Toronto before July 1 (a year before the end of his contract and the day his no-trade clause kicks in), but now…

In fact, don’t hold your breath: on July 1, he won’t be signed long-term. It’s as simple as that… even if he has said publicly that his goal is to stay in the Queen City.

The players are wondering what’s going on and the bond of trust is a little frayed.

So, in Matthews’ case, it’s going to be harder to tell yourself that there could be a David Pastrnak scenario, where the player and the club trust each other that a deal will happen.

With the next GM, it will certainly be different.

And what’s creating uncertainty right now is the fact that the guys don’t know where they stand, since we don’t know who the next GM will be.

Will Brad Treleving, who got permission from the Flames to talk to the Leafs, be a prime candidate? Yes, he’ll be a seriously considered option.

Marc Bergevin is another name that came up during the podcast. After Darren Dreger, Friedman puts in a good word…

Most importantly, right now, the Maple Leafs don’t just need a good, experienced GM. They need a GM who isn’t afraid to make big decisions and take responsibility for them.

It’s not a simple matter, and every day that passes adds to the uncertainty that makes the climate in Toronto… difficult. Let’s put it this way.

In bursts

– Speaking of “things are bad in Toronto”: the Blue Jays had a horrible week.

– There will be, in my opinion.

– To be continued.

– RHP has a new car. [H&L]

– With good reason.

Vincent Desharnais admits he’s dropped out of playoff field hockey and it’s partly because of his team’s elimination.🏒

To hear his interview with @JiCLajoie: https://t.co/rec7HkW2CF pic.twitter.com/6QJpEct4tr

– BPM Sports (@BPMSportsRadio) May 22, 2023