NHL Insider reveals possible reason why Kyle Dubas hasn't been extended

This past offseason, Toronto Maple Leafs general manger Kyle Dubas was given a vote of confidence by team president Brendan Shanahan despite yet another failure to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Thanks to moves that Dubas made during the summer as well as at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, the Leafs now find themselves one victory away from advancing to Round 2 of the postseason for the first time since 2004. However, there's still the matter of fact that Dubas remains without a contract for next season. The 37-year-old Dubas knows that he'll be held to account for his body of work over the past several years. 

But according to an opinion column in The Toronto Star from NHL analyst Nick Kypreos, the reason for a lack of an extension for Dubas may not have been for reasons that most had been speculating. As he puts it, it may not be the Leafs who are behind the stalemate, but Dubas himself, who could be looking to position himself to receive the best possible deal. 

An excerpt from the column penned by Kypreos: 

"Today there is a strong sense that we in the media may have read the tea leaves wrong. The delay in a contract extension may be less about actually winning a round and more about how much money Dubas and his employers think he is worth.

It’s still not confirmed whether or not Shanahan and the board made a formal offer to Dubas during the past season, but if they did discuss salary and term it may not have been anywhere near the price point the 37-year-old GM feels he is worth.

If that’s the case, the negotiation on a new deal will come down to how successful this post-season turns out for the Leafs and how lucrative it will be for Dubas and his family."

......

"Speaking of leverage swinging in Dubas’s favour, let’s add the Pittsburgh Penguins to the queue. They have a new analytical ownership group that is in cap hell right now. They are in dire need to rebuild their roster so they can start competing again as early as next season.

With Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang still making major contributions, the Penguins are looking for a new GM who has a reputation for finding good players at bargain-basement prices. Know anyone of that ilk, Leafs Nation?"

Voice your thoughts, Leafs fans. Do you believe that Dubas will be back with the Leafs next season, regardless of how the current postseason ends up?