Toronto Maple Leafs: Kyle Dubas and Killer Instinct

The Toronto Maple Leafs seeking the proper amount of killer instinct since 1967.

For the unwavering legion of Toronto Maple Leafs fans knowing only agony, it’s akin to continually taking open-ice hits for the team…and spears to the groin…and pucks to the face.

And, for the chorus of fans forever beside itself every time it happens, it’s like, hysterically prime ministerial

Forever connected.

Like Patrick Marleau’s last game as a Leaf when the term “killer instinct” was first mused – by him, not Auston Matthews the year after. The inability to shut the door on a 3-2 series lead against the Boston Bruins in 2019 might have lead to his surmise. Matthews simply confirmed it:

Or like the beginning of the 2020 campaign when “The Great Eight” echoed a years-old sad truth about the Leafs:

“If they want to win a cup, they have to play differently.”

So, when the 2019-20 Leafs ended in yet another loss, there wasn’t anything inspiring or surprising about it.

Look, puck-possession navigation systems are super cool and all, but it’s time to find that elusive killer instinct and start being tough enough.

It makes perfectly good sense to prioritize speed and skill over size and toughness because the latter is likely easier to acquire via free-agency or trade. She’s all yours. Have at her. Just augment well.

The Leafs seemed to take that lesson to heart. Coming off the loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020, Dubas shared his thoughts in the off-season:

“If we are going to go from being a good team to a perennial contender, we need to really shore up our defensive side of it.”

Now, Dubas didn’t rush out and load up on size for crashing and banging, but he didn’t rest on his laurels either.  Hi biggest acquisition – T.J Brodie – was brought in for his skill and talent, proving Dubas hadn’t conceded his philosophy.  But it was on the margins that the GM improved his team and made it into a more three-dimensional contender – adding that Killer Instinct, if you will.

By adding Wayne Simmons, Joe Thornton, Zach Bogisian and Nick Foligno, the Leafs GM brought in a core of tough-as-nails veterans with known killer instinct to compliment his uber-talented core.

Kyle Dubas – Hockey Analytics Hot Shot, Hockey Nut, Graduate of Sports Management, G.M. of the Toronto Maple Leafs, call him what you will – one thing’s for certain: he doesn’t ride the pines.

What Kyle Dubas does is aggressively pursue players befitting of his – and Coach Sheldon Keefe’s – team. Like, driven veterans with strong defensive acumen and character traits each tough enough in their own rights.

Seemingly so, that killer instinct has everyone’s attitude-adjusted priorities right here. Just don’t expect everyone to agree.