Brendan Shanahan has a message for Kyle Dubas

The highly publicized split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Dubas continues to produce fallout from all angles, with fans and media members alike taking sides between Dubas and embattled Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. 

It was Shanahan who announced Dubas' departure from the Leafs earlier this month, stating that his thinking changed when Dubas appeared less than 100% committal to the job of general manager for next season during his season-ending press conference. It wasn't long afterward that Dubas removed all references to the Maple Leafs from his social media accounts, while also unfollowing them as well as Shanahan.

Dubas has since re-emerged in the National Hockey League, taking the job of president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was officially introduced to the media in Pittsburgh earlier today, immediately after the Leafs introduced Dubas' replacement as general manager in Brad Treliving back in Toronto.

Shanahan was asked about the timing of the two press conferences being so close to one another on the same day, and he had this to say about Dubas and the Penguins: 

"They are like us," he said. "I don’t think it was intentional timing. I have been in contact with the CEO of Fenway, Sam Kennedy. He and I are very close. We have talked over the last week several times about Kyle."

"They need to get to work as well. I fully endorse Kyle. I told Sam he would be great for the organization. I am very happy for him."

It sounds as though while the relationship between Dubas and Shanahan may have soured a bit after the former's termination, they're still both keeping things professional in the public eye. 

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