(Henderson) Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was still trying to digest his team’s second-round playoff elimination when Kyle Dubas held an emotional end-of-season press conference – Dubas’ last public appearance with the organization.
Dubas was fired as general manager in May, despite helping Toronto overcome a long postseason drought.
He was dismissed after a tumultuous period, initiated by Dubas’ questioning of his desire to remain in office.
Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan made the decision for him by hiring Brad Treliving, who had just left the Calgary Flames.
“There’s been a lot of continuity since I joined the club,” Tavares said during an NHL players’ media tour this week in suburban Las Vegas.
“It’s not easy, just having been through a lot of things with Kyle. But it’s sport, it’s the “business” side. Things didn’t work out, unfortunately. »
After a summer of change, Tavares and the Leafs are ready to move forward.
Treliving signed names bringing skill, grit and personality in Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Ryan Reaves and John Klingberg.
He also gave Auston Matthews a contract extension that keeps the star center with Toronto through the 2027-28 season.
Treliving also extended head coach Sheldon Keefe’s current contract for two seasons, beyond 2023-24.
“Brad just wants to continue to enhance what we already have and how we operate,” said Tavares, who signed a seven-year, $77 million contract to return home in July 2018, shortly after starting the job. Bottom.
“Things are firmly established and the page has been turned. »
The Leafs beat the Lightning last spring, advancing to the second round for the first time since 2004, before losing to the tough Panthers.
In net, Ilya Samsonov begins his second camp in Toronto as the undisputed number one goaltender, after often sharing the task with Matt Murray last season.
The Russian was rewarded with a one-year, $3.55M contract. He was 27-10-5 in 2022-23.
“He works hard,” Tavares said of the goalie released by the Capitals in July 2022. “He wants to deliver the goods. He is very motivated. »