Kyle Dubas served as the Toronto Maple Leafs GM for five years, from 2018 to 2023, but his tenure almost didn't happen. One year before landing the job, Dubas, who was serving as an assistant GM in Toronto, was being courted by the  Colorado Avalanche about a position with the club to serve as general manager. The deal, however, did not materialize for a number of reasons.

Dubas appeared as a guest on the Cam and Strick podcast, hosted by Cam Janssen and Andy Strickland, and talked about how then-Toronto GM Lou Lamoriello helped him put the situation into perspective. Lamoriello's advice was a key factor in Dubas's decision. Dubas recalled, "Lou's view of it to me at the time was like you know all the people here, you know the players, you know the ins and outs of it. Regardless of the market size and different things of that nature, it's probably the best situation, and because you're familiar with it all. So, that was a strong push for me to stay and do that".

In 2018, the Maple Leafs moved on from Lamoriello at the GM position and installed Dubas as their new GM. Dubas says he learned a lot from the longtime hockey executive.

"I mean, we could talk forever about Lou and how great a mentor he was for me and how great our relationship still is to this day, and how close he is with my family," Dubas said. "Like, he's just, he's the best. But, you know, so that was a great experience".

In the summer of 2023, the Maple Leafs elected not to renew Dubas's contract, and he went on to become the president of hockey operations and general manager with the Pittsburgh Penguins later that summer.

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