In a new book, out on October 15, Pittsburgh Penguins President Kyle Dubas discusses his "biggest mistake" as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams," written by Craig Custance of The Athletic, looks at Dubas' long history with the organization. The book thoroughly examines the challenges and tactical decisions faced by NHL executives and includes interviews with well-known hockey players. 

Missed Opportunities and Contract Issues

Dubas, who led the team as general manager for five years, looks back on a crucial period in the team's recent past: the signings of Nylander and Marner. In his reflections within the book, Dubas acknowledges that he could have taken a more proactive role in managing their contract negotiations.

Dubas regrets not securing extensions for Marner and Matthews on July 1, alongside negotiating Nylander's contract. He also discussed the implications of signing John Tavares with the trio, acknowledging that Tavares' high average annual value contract raised the team's salary expectations.

Dubas recalls that Nylander's contract discussions persisted and became tricky when other teams started to present offer sheets to him, raising his price even higher. Ultimately, on December 1, 2018, Nylander inked a long-term deal just prior to a deadline that could have sidelined him for that season. Marner had a similar situation when he inked his contract in September 2019 when the team was training in St. John's, Newfoundland.

The issue with the contracts for the trio was not their value but that they were given unrestricted free agent-level money despite being restricted free agents. Allocating over $41 million, nearly half the salary cap, to four forwards left Toronto struggling to build a strong supporting cast around its stars.

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Pandemic's Toll on Maple Leafs' Financial Strategy

The pandemic caused pay cap stagnation, making matters worse and making it even more difficult to manage finances. In the book, Darryl Belfry, a former Maple Leafs development staff member under Dubas, reflects on how the team's financial struggles may have been different had the COVID-19 pandemic not happened.

Belfry speculates that the salary cap could have reached $90 million, but due to the pandemic, it resulted in a flat cap for several years, complicating financial projections. Belfry asserts that this situation was an unavoidable act of nature, not a miscalculation by the team, and acknowledges its significant impact on their financial planning.

Several of the interviews conducted for the book are with Lou Lamoriello, former general manager of the Maple Leafs and current President of the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, and other NHL executives. These insights offer a thorough understanding of teams' difficulties when handling player contracts and overcoming novel obstacles.

Fans can understand the pressures and decisions that go into making NHL decisions better by reading Dubas' thoughts and viewpoints in this book. The book pledges to offer an understanding of one of the most tumultuous periods in recent hockey history and the enduring impacts of the pandemic on the sport. 

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