Cathy Squires

Instead of guessing the future, which is basically all we do in June, July and August around here, how about a break where we think about the past, question the way things have always been done and ask where else there should be changes than just the players themselves.

June 30 is the deadline this year for Qualifying Offers to RFAs, hard on the draft, there isn't a lot of time for teams to get things organized before free agency opens the very next day.

It's been a few years since buyouts were very relevant to our interests around here, but this year is different. The Leafs have open positions to fill, and they also have that goalie issue.

Kevin Weekes with the scoop today.

Usually this sort of thing is mostly obvious, but Kyle Dubas (clearly intentionally) left the team in a state where it can be radically altered this summer while not touching the core players. Now there's a new GM at the helm, and we're flying blind when it comes to guessing on his likely moves.

There is no case to trade one of the Leafs top players because somehow that magically makes the team better. It is extremely hard to make a team better trading elite or near-elite talent in the immediate term, even if you're happy with short term gains.

There are 2 - 5 games remaining in the Stanley Cup Final, and when that ends, one team is very happy, and the other 31 teams get to work.

It all began with Nick Kypreos who is quoted as saying that there are "rumblings" that the Leafs are interested in Shane Doan. On Monday's Jeff Marek show, Elliotte Friedman said that it can't be confirmed to be happening, but Kypreos was not wrong in what he said.

You're not supposed to. You're supposed to hate them or be bitter about them or jaded or resigned to them being so Leafy ha ha. You're not supposed to just like them.

This is in the early stages, but the context for this news comes as Mike Babcock is confirmed to be the head coach in Columbus once his Maple Leafs contract ends at the end of this month and other teams are finalizing coaching searches.

Kyle Dubas built a team that was competitive and if they keep trying eventually they'll get the bounces and they'll win. He didn't build a team to go for it and win the Cup. Okay. How do you know? Because they lost x times in a row. Ergo...

Just add water and stir. The takeaway noodles you can make at home!

The first media availability of the Maple Leafs new General Manager is live in this post – will be replayable later. Scheduled start time is 11:00 am.

There has been talk all summer that multiple NHL teams were interested in Carbery as a head coach, giving him a step up to the next rung on the career ladder – the way most teams fill open positions.

Leafs news (there is none) and chat. There is some NHL news, though.

The new Leafs GM is going to be confronted with a big job as soon as they take over. The major remaking of the team was inked into the Leafs' calendar by Kyle Dubas, intentionally I think, to give him – or a new GM – the opportunity to really make the tired, old phrase "run it back" into a lie.

Worlds have ended with some happy Canadians, and for Latvia, happy isn't a strong enough word. The Memorial Cup is moving along too quickly, and soon the hockey will be over again.

The main issue surrounds a conflict that has plagued hockey for years, and has never had a satisfying solution provided by anyone.

Several potential GM candidates have been mentioned in passing, and unlike with Brad Treliving, who the Leafs are definitely interested in, the rest are speculative. A lot of weight got put on Brendan Shanahan's original remarks about "experience", but things can change.

Just in general, Wednesday is a very off day, but it is also a day off at the World Championships.

The meme is that the NHL just recycles the same six guys from team to team, but is that really true? Where do most of the GMs working for NHL teams come from?

The official Dubas family statement on Kyle Dubas's departure from the Maple Leafs.

It was process. It has always been about process and how you only trust a good process, not a flawed one.

Brad Treliving seems to be the only candidate for the job of Leafs GM because he quit his last one. Who exactly is Treliving and is he better than all the rest because he still knows the fax number of the NHL offices?

Holiday weekend chat and doomsayers club.