Kyle Dubas is out as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The team said Friday it is B次元官网网址減arting waysB次元官网网址� with the 37-year-old, whose contract was set to expire June 30.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to thank Kyle for his unwavering dedication over these last nine seasons with the organization, including his last five as general manager,B次元官网网址� Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. B次元官网网址淜yle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff, and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season.B次元官网网址�

Shanahan was scheduled to address the media Friday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena.

With Dubas the first domino to fall in what could be a summer of intrigue in hockeyB次元官网网址檚 biggest market, the attention now turns to his replacement, along with the status of head coach Sheldon Keefe and the future of star forward Auston Matthews, who both have close ties with the now-departed executive.

The Leafs won a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades this spring when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning before bowing out to the underdog Florida Panthers in a disappointing second-round showing.

An emotional Dubas said at his end-of-season press conference Monday he wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if he would continue on as GM, citing the stress on his young family.

Fans shouldnB次元官网网址檛 expect Dubas to be joining another club in the short-term.

B次元官网网址淚 definitely donB次元官网网址檛 have it in me to go anywhere else,B次元官网网址� he added at what turned out to be his final media availability as GM. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l either be here or itB次元官网网址檒l be taking time to recalibrate (and) reflect B次元官网网址� but you wonB次元官网网址檛 see me next week pop up elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 put (my family) through that after this year.B次元官网网址�

Dubas joined the Leafs in 2014 as an assistant GM at age 28 and managed the American Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup title in 2018.

He took over as Toronto general manager from Lou Lamoriello in May 2018 as part of a succession plan under ShanahanB次元官网网址檚 direction.

The Leafs experienced unprecedented regular-season traction under Dubas B次元官网网址� viewed as a young, bright hockey mind with a forward-thinking approach to analytics B次元官网网址� over his five years in charge.

Toronto set single-season records for wins and points, and went 221-109-42 in his tenure. Dubas also didnB次元官网网址檛 shy away from big moves B次元官网网址� he fired Stanley Cup-winning head coach Mike Babcock in November 2019 and replaced him with Keefe B次元官网网址� but struggled to find the right mix in the playoffs until this spring.

The Leafs lost in seven games to Boston in 2019, fell to Columbus in the 2020 pandemic-necessitated qualifying round, and blew a 3-1 lead against Montreal in a disastrous 2021 collapse before showing promise in a tight, seven-game loss to Tampa in 2022 that set the stage for last monthB次元官网网址檚 breakthrough.

Dubas offered unwavering support to TorontoB次元官网网址檚 so-called B次元官网网址淐ore FourB次元官网网址� of offensive talent consisting of Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.

B次元官网网址淎s a person, heB次元官网网址檚 been unbelievable throughout my whole time here,B次元官网网址� Marner said of Dubas after the Leafs were eliminated by Florida. B次元官网网址淒efinitely a special person to have around. He cares a lot for his players and his staff.

B次元官网网址淪omething that weB次元官网网址檙e all pretty lucky to have.B次元官网网址�

His first big splash was to lure Tavares, who grew up just west of Toronto, with a seven-year, US$77-million contract in free agency after just a few months on the job.

A tough negotiation with Nylander B次元官网网址� the winger missed the first two months of the 2018-19 season B次元官网网址� followed before he eventually signed a six-year extension worth $45 million the following December.

That set the stage for Matthews to ink a five-year extension with a value just under $58.2 million in February 2019.

Marner then got paid seven months later with a six-year, $65.4-million pact as Toronto allocated roughly half its salary cap to four stars.

Dubas also made a number of trades and wasnB次元官网网址檛 shy about changing course, realizing early on that Toronto needed more grit and playoff experience.

He acquired Stanley Cup champions Jake Muzzin in 2019 and Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eilly in 2023 with an eye towards helping get the Leafs over the hump.

Tight against the cap, Dubas also found players in the bargain bin, including veteran forward Jason Spezza and hometown product Michael Bunting.

Dubas remade the roster before this seasonB次元官网网址檚 trade deadline by adding OB次元官网网址橰eilly, Noel Acciari, Luke Schenn and Jake McCabe, continuing a trend of draft picks heading out the door for immediate help.

He also had his fair share of misses, namely the signing of goaltender Petr Mrazek and the trade for oft-injured netminder Matt Murray.

Dealing centre Nazem Kadri B次元官网网址� twice suspended in the playoffs with Toronto B次元官网网址� to Colorado could be justified at the time, but he went onto be a key contributor in the AvalancheB次元官网网址檚 Cup victory last June.

Nick Foligno, meanwhile, got hurt and played just 11 games for the Leafs after being acquired at the 2021 deadline.

Dubas appeared to finally get it right this spring in the LeafsB次元官网网址� six-game victory over Tampa that exorcised a generation of playoff demons, but FloridaB次元官网网址檚 emphatic 4-1 triumph in the second round saw most of those good vibes quickly fade.

His replacement will have to decide what to do with Keefe, while Matthews and Nylander are entering the final years of their contacts and can sign extensions July 1.

Both players have indicated theyB次元官网网址檇 like to stay, but that was when Dubas was still in the fold. Matthews and Marner, who has two years left on his deal, both have full no-movement clauses set to kick in this summer, while Nylander will own a 10-team list.

While Dubas wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to unlock a winning formula in Toronto, there was never any questioning the GMB次元官网网址檚 passion.

He was caught on camera jawing with Lightning fans this spring, wildly celebrating the Leafs finally getting past the first round, and throwing a water bottle in disgust during the Panthers defeat.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 an emotional person,B次元官网网址� Dubas said Monday. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 deeply passionate B次元官网网址� I know some people might not like it or care for it.

B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 me.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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