Maple Leafs GM Not Interested Helping Oilers Save Money

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear all but set to say goodbye to one of their most important players, Zach Hyman, but don't expect them to help the Edmonton Oilers more than they already have. The two sides have been trying to work out a sign-and-trade but the Oilers are only interested in given up a late round draft pick. Meanwhile if they want that extra year on his contract to save significant money on his average annual salary, don't expect any handouts from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas.

Kyle Dubas, on potential Hyman sign-and-trade with Edmonton: "I know that there’s a narrative that we should just get something, but when you’re saving a team significant dollars on the salary cap that comes with a cost, and we’re not going to bend on that.”

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 24, 2021

You can't blame Dubas for not wanting to help out the team that's taking away his first-line left winger. Hyman is a work horse and a player every single team in the league could use. He's going from playing on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to playing with Connor McDavid. Appears his education at the University of Michigan has served Hyman well.

The deal will be for 7 years without the sign and trade and for roughly $5.5 million. About a million per season too rich for the Maple Leafs blood. Now we sit back and wait for a few years to see if Toronto made the right decision walking away.

Photo credit: ohn E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports