Who should the next GM be? The next head coach?

[Rob]

Massive hypothetical here...

But say Shanahan and Dubas were both to take a sensible pill and Dubas was reinstated as GM. How would you feel about that?

Think I'd settle for that personally.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1661735063783088139

Huge update from Dreger everyone, in case you thought the Leafs may have paused their search for a quick vacay.

[OldTimeHockey]

Dreger always has the hot takes. A true "hockey insider"

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/FirstUp1050/status/1661766173380300801

Not exactly an insider by trade but Colaiacovo speculates that Jim Nill might get a call once Dallas gets eliminated. Nill is signed for just 1 more season in Dallas, which came from just a 1-year extension that he signed last summer (a sign he might not exactly be there forever?). He was in Detroit's front office throughout Shanahan's time as a Red Wing so there would be a pre-existing relationship between the two of them.

I'm not entirely sure if Nill jumps straight to the top of my list but this would be the type of candidate I would hope the Leafs GM job attracts. As it was reminded in the past week Brian Burke once rightfully called it "one of the most important jobs in hockey". And that was before they had Matthews & company. If the line of interviewees is just going to end up being GMs who were fired in the past month it would be very disappointing.

[L K]

https://twitter.com/FirstUp1050/status/1661766173380300801

Not exactly an insider by trade but Colaiacovo speculates that Jim Nill might get a call once Dallas gets eliminated. Nill is signed for just 1 more season in Dallas, which came from a 1-year extension that he signed last summer (a sign he might not exactly be there forever?). He was in Detroit's front office throughout Shanahan's time as a Red Wing so there would be a pre-existing relationship between the two of them.

I'm not entirely sure if Nill jumps straight to the top of my list but this would be the type of candidate I would hope the Leafs GM job attracts. As it was reminded in the past week Brian Burke once rightfully called it "one of the most important jobs in hockey". And that was before they had Matthews & company. If the line of interviewees is just going to end up being GMs who were fired in the past month it would be very disappointing.

I don't love the idea of laying claim to GMs from teams that still have their guy under contract.  That being said, if Jim Nill wants to come to Toronto and recreate his 2017 draft I'm all for it.

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't love the idea of laying claim to GMs from teams that still have their guy under contract.  That being said, if Jim Nill wants to come to Toronto and recreate his 2017 draft I'm all for it.

Why is that? I mean you would still need to deal with out clauses or permissions from owners but I want the best GM possible, not just the best GM who isn't currently employed at the moment.

[herman]

I don't love the idea of laying claim to GMs from teams that still have their guy under contract.

Are you familiar with Shanahan's history...?

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

[bustaheims]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

Nope. And, as much as I get the desire for someone fresh and new, I think bringing in someone with experience but who hasn't been around since forever feels like the right balance - someone new enough that they're not super set in their ways, have a more modern approach to the game and players, etc., but experienced enough to know how to handle star players, the grind of an NHL season, and so on.

[Significantly Insignificant]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

Nope. And, as much as I get the desire for someone fresh and new, I think bringing in someone with experience but who hasn't been around since forever feels like the right balance - someone new enough that they're not super set in their ways, have a more modern approach to the game and players, etc., but experienced enough to know how to handle star players, the grind of an NHL season, and so on.

So a unicorn?

[herman]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

Nope. And, as much as I get the desire for someone fresh and new, I think bringing in someone with experience but who hasn't been around since forever feels like the right balance - someone new enough that they're not super set in their ways, have a more modern approach to the game and players, etc., but experienced enough to know how to handle star players, the grind of an NHL season, and so on.

Yeah, I wasn't banking on my suggestions knowing the corporations involved in this decision.

Carlton's suggestion of Garth Snow might be the one that lines up best. Treliving is ok, as he's still so fresh from the Calgary job he's still up to date on how the league plays these days.

Best case is to get an experienced 'face' GM who empowers those around him to do the footwork (Pridham - cap, Wickenheiser - dev, Clark - draft, coaching/strategy) and pull it all together cohesively. In any case, there is an opportunity here to re-model the roster make up (whether it means trading Marner or not), the playstyle, the mindset.

[L K]

I don't love the idea of laying claim to GMs from teams that still have their guy under contract.  That being said, if Jim Nill wants to come to Toronto and recreate his 2017 draft I'm all for it.

Why is that? I mean you would still need to deal with out clauses or permissions from owners but I want the best GM possible, not just the best GM who isn't currently employed at the moment.

I think I'm just thinking of it more from the media side of things.  Doug Armstrong, Jim Nill.  If there is legitimate interest from both parties sure.  I just think there is a lot of media stuff right now throwing names out for the sake of throwing names.  It's more an annoyance over page view journalism than not wanting the Leafs to go after the best candidate (mind you I still dislike them moving on from Dubas in the first place and would rather see a guy like Tulsky get the job).

[CarltonTheBear]

I think I'm just thinking of it more from the media side of things.  Doug Armstrong, Jim Nill.  If there is legitimate interest from both parties sure.  I just think there is a lot of media stuff right now throwing names out for the sake of throwing names.  It's more an annoyance over page view journalism than not wanting the Leafs to go after the best candidate (mind you I still dislike them moving on from Dubas in the first place and would rather see a guy like Tulsky get the job).

Yeah fair enough. I do think there is a notable difference between the at least potential availability of Armstrong and Nill though. Armstrong is in the middle of a 5-year contract extension that still has 3 seasons on it. There's simply no reason for the Blues to allow him to leave just because the Leafs came calling.

Nill signed a 1-year extension on his deal for the 23/24 season back in the 2022 offseason, so he's technically heading into a lame-duck season. I'm sure Dallas will talk to him about extending his contract further but if that doesn't happen or the interest doesn't seem mutual they're a lot more likely to allow him to leave at that point.

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

Nope. And, as much as I get the desire for someone fresh and new, I think bringing in someone with experience but who hasn't been around since forever feels like the right balance - someone new enough that they're not super set in their ways, have a more modern approach to the game and players, etc., but experienced enough to know how to handle star players, the grind of an NHL season, and so on.

So a unicorn?

I think he's talking about Kyle Dubas.

[bustaheims]

I don't know who they'll hire, but I think it's a pretty safe bet they won't be going off the board.  I kind of liked your suggestion, herman, but I don't see anything remotely like that happening.

Nope. And, as much as I get the desire for someone fresh and new, I think bringing in someone with experience but who hasn't been around since forever feels like the right balance - someone new enough that they're not super set in their ways, have a more modern approach to the game and players, etc., but experienced enough to know how to handle star players, the grind of an NHL season, and so on.

So a unicorn?

I think he's talking about Kyle Dubas.

I was thinking more about the coach than the GM.