I always appreciate when readers leave comments at the end of a post. I learn a lot from them, and I almost never push back. Yesterday, though, I wrote about Brendan Shanahan and the “Shanaplan” as a considered outline for building a winning Toronto Maple Leafs team. As all Maple Leafs fans know, the Shanaplan never brought the Maple Leafs a Stanley Cup.
Some readers pushed back. They suggested that Shanahan’s big move—hiring Kyle Dubas as general manager was questionable because he was inexperienced. They also weren’t shy about labelling John Tavares’s signing as a poor one. In contrast, they pointed out that Lou Lamoriello was a far superior general manager.
Related: Patrick Marleau’s Lasting Maple Leafs Legacy
Their comments got me thinking: maybe we should compare the biggest Maple Leafs free-agent signings under each GM.
Lamoriello’s and Dubas’ Biggest Free-Agent Signings
Of all Lamoriello’s free-agent signings as GM of the Maple Leafs, Patrick Marleau was by far the biggest in terms of profile, expectation, and contract. No one else Lamoriello brought in as a free agent had nearly the same combination of impact, attention, or cap hit.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
When Dubas was running the Maple Leafs, John Tavares was his biggest free-agent signing. Both moves shaped the team in different ways, for better or worse. So here’s a closer look at each, what they meant to the team, and how they stacked up. [The truth is that I loved both players as Maple Leafs, as you can tell from the Related links in this post. I invite you to remember each by looking back at the photos here and reading about some of their history with the team.]
Related: Snubbed, Sharpened, Surging: Maple Leafs Tavares Just Turns Up
In the last decade of Maple Leafs free-agent moves, two names always come up: Marleau and Tavares. Both are class acts, both brought great skill and experience, and both were signed to help the Maple Leafs take the next step. But here’s the thing: while Marleau had his moments, it’s hard to argue that anyone looks back at his signing the way they do Tavares’.
Marleau Was Signed by Lamoriello on July 2, 2017
Marleau arrived in Toronto on July 2, 2017, with a three-year deal worth just under $19 million. The hope? Get a veteran with scoring ability who could guide the younger Maple Leafs and maybe boost the offence. For a little while, it worked. Marleau put up 27 goals and 47 points in his first season, which is solid, no doubt.
But after that, things started sliding. Production dropped, and by the end of his contract, he was traded with a draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes to clear cap space. The experience he brought was helpful, but the team couldn’t really lean on him long-term.
Tavares Was Signed by Dubas on July 1, 2018
Now, compare that to Tavares, who signed a monster seven-year, $77 million deal on July 1, 2018. This was a whole different league. Tavares didn’t just bring skill; he brought leadership, a scoring touch, and the kind of franchise-altering presence that Marleau never really could. In his first season, he exploded for 47 goals and 88 points.
Related: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Patrick Marleau: Taking One for the Team?
The playoffs haven’t always been kind, and that nasty 2021 postseason injury slowed him down, but he’s been a consistent force since he arrived.
Tavares vs. Marleau Impact on the Maple Leafs
Here’s where the comparison really gets interesting. Tavares was a game-changer immediately. Marleau provided solid start-up and mentorship, but Tavares took the team to another level from day one.
Long-term? Tavares has been a cornerstone. Marleau’s signing was almost always meant to be a short-term fix; it filled a gap for a season or two, but it wasn’t going to reshape the franchise. Even with the higher cap hit, Tavares’s ability to drive the team and be the focal point of the offence justifies it.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
And the leadership angle can’t be overstated. Marleau was a respected veteran and a great guy in the locker room. He had a huge impact on a young Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. But Tavares commands respect differently. He leads by example, draws defenders away, and makes the players around him better. For several years, he was a solid Maple Leafs captain. That kind of impact doesn’t show up on the scoresheet every night, but it has changed the culture of the team in a way Marleau’s signing never could.
Grading the Trades Against Each Other
If we were handing out grades, it would be pretty clear.
Marleau? B-. Solid, respectable, but ultimately fleeting.
Tavares? A-. He’s delivered on the hype, and even with the playoff letdowns here and there, he’s been a player who elevates the Maple Leafs daily.
Related: The Quiet Greatness of John Tavares — A Maple Leafs Legacy That Endures
So when the Maple Leafs look back at their two big free-agent moves over the past decade, as made by Lamoriello and Dubas, the lesson is clear: Tavares wasn’t just another pick-up. He was smart, impactful, and transformative. Marleau brought character and experience, no argument. But in the long game, Tavares is the one who actually moved the needle. That’s why, if you’re grading impact, Dubas wins this round over Lamoriello—hands down.
