Kyle Dubas' Worst Move As Leafs GM Revealed

Kyle Dubas was widely regarded as one of the best GMs in the NHL during his time in Toronto but a recent revelation may prove otherwise.

Dubas' Worst Move

During the 2021 expansion draft, Kyle Dubas elected to protect 4 defensemen which meant he could only protect 4 forwards as opposed to the typical 7 forwards and 3 defensemen. The four defensemen he protected were Morgan Rielly, TJ Brodie, Jake Muzzin, and Justin Holl. His four forwards were the core four.

While this move was questioned at the time, Dubas seemed happy with what he chose to do. Now, just two years later, this move seems to have backfired terribly and has costed the Leafs a 40-goal scorer.


From Toronto, the Seattle Kraken decided to select Jared McCann, who the Leafs had just acquired just four days prior.



To clarify, Kyle Dubas chose to protect Justin Holl over McCann and two other forwards (likely Alexander Kerfoot and Ilya Mikheyev).

McCann Recent Success

When the Leafs traded for McCann, he was coming off a 14-goal and 32-point season where he only played 43 games (27-goal and 61-point pace).

Since joining the Kraken, McCann has only succeeded. Last year he scored 40 goals and 70 points in 79 games leading the Kraken offensively.

McCann also led the NHL in goals per 60 minutes which is mindboggling.


To lose that for absolutely nothing because you wanted to keep Justin Holl is simply inexcusable and potentially part of the reason why Dubas and the Leafs parted ways.

As seen on Maple Leafs Insider - Kyle Dubas' biggest blunder as Leafs GM leads to team losing one of the league's most efficient goal scorers for nothing