The candidates for the vacant general manager role for the Toronto Maple Leafs were recently revealed by a prominent NHL insider.
The Maple Leafs fired former GM Brad Treliving in March following a lost season where the team regressed and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Immediately after Treliving was let go, MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley went to work on finding the team’s next GM.
According to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliott Friedman, the Maple Leafs interviewed around 10 candidates via Zoom last week. According to Friedman in the latest written edition of 32 Thoughts, these are the confirmed candidates for the Maple Leafs vacant GM role:
- Ryan Bowness, New York Islanders assistant GM
- John Chayka, former Arizona Coyotes GM
- Mike Gillis, former Vancouver Canucks GM
- Ryan Hardy, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM
- Ryan Martin, New York Rangers assistant GM
- Brandon Pridham, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM
- Chris Pronger, Hockey Hall of Famer and Sportsnet NHL Analyst
Friedman also connected the Maple Leafs to the following executives, though he could not say for sure if the team has spoken to them.
- Gregor Campbell, Florida Panthers assistant GM
- Evan Gold, Boston Bruins assistant GM
- Ross Mahoney, Washington Capitals assistant GM
- Brad Pascall, Calgary Flames assistant GM
Additionally, Friedman confirmed that the Maple Leafs have spoken to team legend Mats Sundin, though his potential role in the organization is not yet known.
Mike Gillis is Considered the Frontrunner to Become the Maple Leafs GM
Reports have been circulating as of late that Mike Gillis is the frontrunner to become the new Maple Leafs GM, or potentially the team’s president, with another executive hired under him to be the GM. Gillis was the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks from 2008 to 2014, and helped build the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, though they lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins. Gillis has not worked in the NHL since he was fired by the Canucks, but he is highly respected in the league, and many insiders believe he will get another shot at a GM job, potentially the one in Toronto.
Maple Leafs Expected to Hire Their GM This Week
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Leafs could have their new GM in place by the end of this week, revealing that the team has advanced to the finalist stage of interviews.
The Maple Leafs recently lost out on one potential GM candidate when former Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta took the vacant GM role with the New Jersey Devils. While Mehta is off the board, there are still plenty of worthy candidates for the Maple Leafs’ vacant GM role, with Gillis at the top of the list.
The last time the Leafs were in the market for a GM, they rushed out and hired Brad Treliving, a decision that proved to be disastrous. This time around, the team is taking its time in making a decision that will shape the direction of a franchise at the crossroads.
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