I’ve been covering the Toronto Maple Leafs long enough to know that, although Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas has some fans – including me, there are also many fans that believe he should be canned sooner rather than later.
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Why Maple Leafs Fans Might Not Like General Manager Kyle Dubas
Perhaps these fans believe he’s too young and a bit too smug – certainly not earthy and old school like Lou Lamoriello was. Perhaps they think he’s a pushover because he let William Nylander “hold him hostage” for a $6.9 million contract. Or, even worse, sign Mitch Marner for even more at $10.9 million. Many are convinced that no team can have so few players making so much of the team’s salary-cap limits?
For some reason, they want Dubas to leave town. Honestly, I don’t get it; but, that’s a story for another post.
Dubas Has Drafted Strong Prospects in the Lower Rounds of the Entry Draft
But what fans can’t dispute is that Dubas and his scouts have an eye for young talent, especially those players who – for some reason- fall into the lower rounds of the NHL’s Entry Draft. Although I won’t be talking about all these players in this post, let me share some names.
For example, there’s Nick Robertson. Although Robertson’s been hurt more than is usual, he was chosen in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2019. However, although that’s quite low for a legitimate draft prospect, he’s quite high in the draft rounds where Dubas has found some other gems.
Prospects Playing with the Toronto Marlies
According to Mike Jack’s (Editor in Leafs) article two days ago, the Maple Leafs have the following promising late-round picks now playing on the Toronto Marlies.
Semyon Der-Arguchinstev was taken in the third round in 2018 has been a great playmaker. The 21-year-old Russian center has scored five goals and added 10 assists (for 15 points) in 27 games this season.
Mac Hollowell was chosen in the fourth round also in 2018. The 23-year-old American right-shot defenseman has an offensive upside. In his second season with the Marlies, Hollowell has scored two goals and added nine assists (for 11 points) in 16 games.
Filip Kral was chosen in the firth round also in 2018. The 22-year-old left-shot defenseman from the Czech Republic also has shown an offensive upside with two goals and 12 assists (for 14 points) in 27 games.
Mikhail Abramov was chosen in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. The 20-year-old Russian center has scored three goals and 13 assists (for 16 points) in 29 games.
Indeed, the Marlies also have Alex Steeves, who went completely undrafted. In 20 games with the Marlies, the 22-year-old American center has scored 11 goals and added nine assists in 20 games. He also has played three games with the Maple Leafs and has registered an assist. Bet the bank on this young prospect.
Maple Leafs’ Fans, There Are More Prospects Than I’ve Listed Here
In summary, the Maple Leafs have been very successful in stockpiling great prospects from the lower rounds of the NHL Entry Draft; or, in the case of Steeves, undrafted players. In another post, I plan to highlight some of those Maple Leafs’ prospects now playing overseas.
What Maple Leafs’ fans should know is that the organization’s cupboards are far from bare.
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gfinale
January 18, 2022 at 11:13 am
You’re absolutely correct about the canned part 😉 I didn’t want a GM who had no NHL GM experience and learned for years to become possibly a good GM, they needed an experienced GM ready to take them far 3 years ago. Over 50+ years, the Leafs had many green GMs such as the wonderful Gord Stellick and John Ferguson Jr! The reason they had so many inexperienced GMs was because they wouldn’t pay more for good ones. For the past few years, there’s no excuse for having an inexperienced GM who keeps making obvious mistakes such as Mrazek’s 3 years too much contract. You can afford to pay too much for someone you think is needed when you’re rebuilding as Lou and gang did but not when you are in the better years.
gfinale
January 18, 2022 at 11:35 am
I don’t consider Robertson a lower draft pick. Although he’s had promise, he’s yet another small guy who did well in lower leagues by playing a tough game like Johnsson and, guess what, he’s injured all the time in upper leagues! We should keep rushing him so he can get injured some more and wipe out his career!
fenderf65
January 18, 2022 at 5:05 pm
You can be forgiven for thinking that Hollowell is American as Dubas drafts almost exclusively Americans and Finns. Actually Hollowell is one of the rare Canadians Dubas has drafted.
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