The Toronto Maple Leafs hunt for a new hockey boss, whether it be a general manager of president of hockey operations has gone pretty far afield. On the weekend, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in his “32 Thoughts” column mentioned the club talking to former Vancouver GM Mike Gillis, who seems be the favorite, but Islanders Assistant GM Ryan Bowness, former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka, Leafs Assistant GM Ryan Hardy, Rangers Assistant GM Ryan Martin, Leafs Assistant GM Brandon Pridham, and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Pronger were also mentioned.
Reporter Frank Seravalli also mentioned Martin and Boston Bruins assistant GM Evan Gold amongst a list of “finalists”, which could mean that the Leafs are narrowing the field to a short list and holding second or third interviews. Friedman on Monday’s 32T also mentioned Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White. White, 58, has come up from the ranks as an assistant and head coach in the ECHL and NCAA, a Director of Hockey Operations and GM at the AHL level, and Director of Hockey Operations and Assistant to Stars GM Jim Nill the last 10 years.
The Leafs have already tapped the Stars organization for Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Leach, which might provide some organizational continuity if White was brought on board. The recent chatter has MLSE boss Keith Pelley getting closer to making a decision before the end of the month.
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong was widely rumored to be a prime target if the Leafs chose to fire GM Brad Treliving, but Toronto has not asked for permission to speak with him. In his Monday piece for the Athletic, reporter Jonas Siegel indicates that the Leafs have not gone big-game hunting for other teams’ GMs, like Tampa’s Julien Brisebois, Florida’s Bill Zito, Colorado’s Chris MacFarland, Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon, or Carolina GM Eric Tulsky.
Siegel theorizes that it is possible that the Leafs would be denied, “either because the owner of said team won’t grant permission or because the executive in question has no interest in leaving their gig to come to Toronto. In the case of Tulsky, Canes owner Tom Dundon already denied Nashville permission to speak to him, so the chances of the Leafs getting permission reside somewhere between slim and none.
It sounds as if any involvement of former Leafs captain and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin will not be a hands-on role, but more of an ambassador or an advisor and a popular face of the franchise. Whoever they hire in the next few weeks will be the real power broker and decision maker going forward.
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