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

[ZBBM]

The other thread is available to continue to dissect how Dubas went down.

Can we have one devoted to looking forward?  Who's your choice for GM?  For head coach?  Or for any other key position in hockey ops?

MLHS offers a short list of GMs who profile (at least in part) for the Leafs and their market:

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/05/23/toronto-maple-leafs-new-gm-search/

Spoiler alert: none of them are named Treliving.

I don't have names to offer.  Buty I do have a suggestion: Shanahan should call up Barry Trotz and ask him what he thinks it took to get the Caps over the hump.  They are our closest comparable, in terms of overcoming years of post-season disappointment.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

3 names that are probably at the top of my list of candidates who I wouldn't be totally depressed about:

1) Eric Tulsky. This would basically be Dubas 2.0 in all areas. If anything Tulsky actually comes from a much stronger analytics background but his time learned from Waddell has also shaped up his Hockey Man knowledge. By all accounts Leafs players appreciated Dubas for his hockey brain and his personality, and Tulsky has those same traits about him as well. I didn't really see him as a realistic candidate because of Shanny's "experience" comment (although should be noted Tulsky has been with the Canes in some role for 8 seasons now) and because I figured he was almost a slam dunk for Pittsburgh (recent news says he's out for that job). Go Tulsky!

2) Mike Gillis + Laurence Gilman. Mike Gillis was Vancouver's GM from the 08/09 to 13/14 seasons, with Laurence Gilman as his AGM. Gillis inherited a team that was a bit of a mess but had a lot of solid players and was able to guide them to 5 straight seasons with a point percentage over .600. That included a trip to the Finals where they lost against Boston. He had that "bite" that apparently Toronto is looking for. Bad news is... his drafted was pretty meh. Maybe that can be fixed with a better scouting staff here. In general Gillis seemed to have a very progressive opinion about hockey and team building, especially for hockey 10+ years ago. Gilman, who's been in the Leafs organization since 2018, can represent a bit of continuity from the Dubas era.

3) Garth Snow. Probably a surprise name here but I think that history has been quietly kind to the Garth Snow era for New York. Almost every key player on the Islanders during Lou's success with the team came from the Snow era. Most notably Matt Barzal, who Snow literally stole from Edmonton in the Griffin Reinhart trade. I could see Snow's biggest weaknesses (not having cash to spend and not be able to attract big names, either players or coaches like Trotz) being negated in Toronto. It's also generally believed that Tavares had a really good relationship with Snow, who was his GM for the first 9 years of Tavares career. Tavares might be able to use that relationship to help alleviate any concerns that Matthews has about the post-Dubas era.

 

[ZBBM]

Really interesting comments about Snow, CTB.  I vaguely recall that hire getting panned at first, but then people came to see he did a pretty good job.

Oh, and why do you think Pittsburgh didn't want this Tulsky fellow (never heard of him until the last  couple of days)?

 

[Arn]

I don't have names, but in the GM spot I'd prefer someone of a similar ilk to Dubas. I don't really want Old School GM. Tulsky seems to fit that bill.

For coach, conversely, I would like someone who has a bit more experience and success than Keefe. Again I can't think of names straight up.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

How does everyone think our players would react to a Darryl Sutter type coach? Perhaps not that extreme. How about a Paul Maurice type coach who has the guts to let a team have it when they're putting in a half assed effort.

 

[Arn]

Funny enough, Paul Maurice name popped into my head just cos of Florida's run.

I also like what Cassidy has done. But can't see him being prised away from Vegas.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

How does everyone think our players would react to a Darryl Sutter type coach? Perhaps not that extreme. How about a Paul Maurice type coach who has the guts to let a team have it when they're putting in a half assed effort.

I think there's definitely a balance between Keefe's buddy buddy approach and Sutter's "I hate you and you hate me" approach that the next coach should probably have.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Oh, and why do you think Pittsburgh didn't want this Tulsky fellow (never heard of him until the last  couple of days)?

Honestly not sure. There was a report just the other day about how he nailed his interview and the owners came away really impressed by him. That group seemed to be the one in a best position to not be bothered by his rather unconventional, non-hockey background. It's too bad. I hope he lands a GM spot somewhere eventually. Although just being bumped up to actual GM in Carolina with Waddell retaining his President title does seem like an inevitability if he sticks around there long enough.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/andystrickland/status/1661343686985150465

Not a confirmation by any means, but also not really a surprise considering nobody has even identified any other candidate interviewing yet.

 

[bustaheims]

For coach, I like the idea of Gerard Gallant.

 

[herman]

I lean more 'outside' the box. What can you possibly gain from a re-tread that hasn't already been realized elsewhere?
Shanahan said he will be leaning on the NHL/Bettman to float candidates (exactly how Shanahan was initially hired by the Leafs) because everything goes smoother when the NHL is directly involved upfront. So I'm not holding by breath for my suggestions to bear fruit.

GM: Tulsky is my #1 choice; he likely won't cost as much coming from salary-suppressed Carolina, and by all accounts, he is of a similar style and skillset to Dubas (better with the data, as Carlton mentioned). Dubas and Tulsky are both very good at communicating concepts to the audience-level.
Here's a brief primer on what he did prior to joining the Hurricanes and subsequently being elevated to AGM:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2555727-examining-the-groundbreaking-work-of-the-nhls-latest-analytics-hire

The truly ideal situation is MLSE realizes the error of their ways, and installs Dubas as President of Hockey OPS and he hires Tulsky as GM (which still might happen, but in Ottawa or Pittsburgh).

Coach: Rikard Gronborg

https://thecoachessite.com/rikard-gronborg-hybrid-coaching-sweden-hockey/

Rikard Gronborg has won more medals than any coach in Swedish history, and it?s not because of an earth-shattering technical scheme or some hidden secret to which the rest of the hockey world simply hasn?t yet caught on. It?s about simplicity and the enjoyment of the game.

It?s about freedom.

?We want their minds to be free. They?re making split second decisions on the ice. There?s nothing we can show them on a board that will help them make those plays. It?s amazing what you can accomplish when the mind is free.?

Or whichever other coach has the right structure for offensive creativity to flourish, and forecheck/press assertively both off the rush and in-zone.

 

[dappleganger]

The Leafs tried rookies with Dubas and Keefe. Why not try two guys past their best-before-dates in Ray Shero and Bruce Boudreau?

I really want Boudreau. After the way Vancouver treated him I'd love for him to go out a winner.

Also, this:

 

[CarltonTheBear]

My heart's wanted Boudreau for years now. I'm not entirely sure if it makes the most sense anymore but I'd still cheer if it happened.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

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.

 

[rdowdall]

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.

I think it would remind some of us olde timey fans of the time Roger Neilson was fired, then rehired, and asked to coach with a bag over his head.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

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.