Latest update on Dillon Dube’s future with the Maple Leafs leaked

As training camp opens, the Toronto Maple Leafs are standing pat when it comes to Dillon Dube. While some speculated about a possible reunion between the forward and Leafs GM Brad Treliving, who drafted Dube 56th overall back in 2016 with the Calgary Flames, it appears Toronto isn’t making a move just yet.

Insider Nick Alberga reported on X that the Leafs have not explored Dube as an option to this point, with management preferring to see how camp unfolds first.

“Per team source, Leafs haven’t explored Dube as an option to this point. Management is currently focused on seeing how camp goes,” Alberga wrote.

In a recent article, Alberga expanded on why a fit might not materialize, writing:

“For my money, the Leafs already have plenty of Dillon Dube-type players. He’s not a difference maker, he’s a complimentary piece. In a perfect world, he’s probably in your bottom-six. I just don’t know where the fit would be.”

With a forward group already crowded, the Leafs appear unlikely to add another depth piece, especially one coming off a lengthy suspension and possible backlash from the Canadian fanbase.

Dube has 57 goals and 127 points in 325 career NHL games, along with a reputation for speed, grit, and the ability to chip in offensively. At his best, he’s been a versatile middle-six winger capable of jumping up into a bigger role. After a year and a half away from the NHL, he would enter any new situation with something to prove, which could be interesting for any contender.

The question for Toronto, and any interested team, is whether the upside outweighs the potential backlash. While Dube could provide scoring depth, the optics of adding a player returning from suspension tied to the London Hockey Trial may not sit well with all fans or media.

And it sounds like, as of right now, the Maple Leafs aren’t looking to deal with controversy and Dube. However, with the latest update on Max Domi, unavailable at the opening of training camp on Wednesday, Dube could remain in the mix in Toronto.

If Toronto ultimately passes, Dube’s next landing spot remains unclear. He’s one of several unrestricted free agents from the group of players recently reinstated by the NHL.

Of the five players, four, Dube, Hart, Foote, and McLeod, had active NHL careers before the charges surfaced in 2023–24. They now sit as unrestricted free agents. Formenton, who last played in the NHL in 2022, recently rejoined HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland.

While Dube is probably drawing interest, time will tell if a team sees him as a meaningful addition to their top-nine or simply another depth option.

For now, the Maple Leafs aren’t biting. But with training camps underway and roster needs shifting, Dube’s NHL return could still be just around the corner.