The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of expectations on their shoulders this season. General manager Kyle Dubas' group of players has yet to get anything productive going during the post season and if they don't do much this season, changes are expected. Former Leafs' GM, Brian Burke, recently said it was impossible to win with four forwards making a combined almost $40million and took some shots at Dubas. During a recent appearance with TSN, Dubas was asked about his core players and the Leafs' GM sent out a bit of a challenge. "There's so much focus sometimes placed on bringing in one or two players and the impact that they can make, but the reality is if that level of competitiveness, and grit, and toughness, as we term it, is going to permeate through the locker room, it's going to be through the maturity of the group that's already there.
Our core group is really embracing the fact that this is a wonderful opportunity. If they're willing to sacrifice a little bit in each of their own individual realms, as all young teams do, then we'll really reach our full potential.
When we talk about toughness with our group, it's very simple the way we define it," Dubas said. "If there's a 50-50 puck, do you desperately want to win that puck every single time? And are you willing to be the first one on the puck? Are you willing to go to the difficult areas of the ice with and without the puck and be successful?" If the Leafs can't perform this season, do you think Dubas will be given another year to get it right?
