The Toronto Maple Leafs search for a new General Manager

[GreatDayforHockey]

just having Matthews agree to an extension is NOT enough! Say he says ya, I will sign for 4 years at $15 million per? NO!!! 8 years at 12 million shows his commitment to the TEAM. Otherwise, put the word out to all other GMS to put your bid in for Auston Matthews! This is the very best Draft in the past dozen years with quality players available all through the first round. Ryan O'Rielly, Tyler Bertuzzi, Tarasenko, Severson, Ryan Graves and others are available as UFAs.....

 

[Notsince67]

I see it as

Treliving/Bergevin

Botterill

Chiarelli

Bergevin, like Treliving, has had some iffy drafts and brutal UFA contracts given out. But their trades are fine, or at least better than Dubas.

Botterill is a big unknown. He seems like he was dropped into a shit situation.

Chiarelli. If this team can't entertain us by being good, maybe they can at least entertain us by being a complete joke.

My guess is that Chia is a rumour leaked to the media to help provide relief among the fan base when they pick someone else

He said that?

Shanahan Reportedly Seeking Guidance From Gary Bettman as Future Remains Uncertain

Brendan Shanahan is expected to consult Gary Bettman about the Leafs Future

www.hockeypatrol.com

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I think the only way that would play out is with a post-Shanahan Leafs.

at the moment I don't see a major core piece traded until next summer at the earliest unless whomever is at the front office gets a "cant refuse" offer from another team this offseason for one of the guys.

Shannys current contract goes until 2025 and he probably wants things with the team as competitive as possible during that period.

Are you saying that nothing will happen between now and 2025 (save for "can't refuse")?

I would think that Shanny would want to take advantage of the talent he has now (2023), and keep competing. As Burke alluded to yesterday, the next GM has one immediate challenge: Matthews. TOR needs to feel out if he wants to return. If so, sign him. If Matthews wants to wait, play the field, etc. then ablige him with a trade. Nylander can wait, and same goes for Marner. Nylander has a 10 team no trade that kicks in. That's no problem. They'll find a suitor within those constraints. Marner is 2024's problem.

 

[ACC1224]

Mirtle: With Kyle Dubas gone, prepare for more Maple Leafs front-office fallout

The Maple Leafs' parting ways with Kyle Dubas is likely the beginning of front-office upheaval with the team.

theathletic.com

so it could be pretty much anyone including Bowman and Quennville

 

[Notsince67]

so it could be pretty much anyone including Bowman and Quennville

I gonna rule out Button right now

 

[ToneDog]

Are you saying that nothing will happen between now and 2025 (save for "can't refuse")?

I would think that Shanny would want to take advantage of the talent he has now (2023), and keep competing. As Burke alluded to yesterday, the next GM has one immediate challenge: Matthews. TOR needs to feel out if he wants to return. If so, sign him. If Matthews wants to wait, play the field, etc. then ablige him with a trade. Nylander can wait, and same goes for Marner. Nylander has a 10 team no trade that kicks in. That's no problem. They'll find a suitor within those constraints. Marner is 2024's problem.

Marner's NMC kicks in July 1st. Burke said they have two immediate challenges. Matty and Mitch. One if they decide to stand pat with Mitch.

 

[andora]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Marc Bergevin makes sense.

I like the fact that he has a connection to Joel Quenville from his time in Chicago. When I think of a coach who embodies a winning mentality, it's Q. I think he's the type of coach that could really elevate our top players, and get them motivated in a way they've never been before. He's also a guy who knows what a winner looks like. If he smells something is off with this core group, he won't be afraid to make that known.

I also think Bergevin did a lot of good things in MTL, and kind of made lemonade outta lemons at times. He wasn't afraid of making bold moves either, and aside from the Sergachev deal, he usually came out on top in trades. He was responsible for making some pretty sizeable, core shifting moves (patches, Subban, Gorges...etc) which ultimately is something we most likely need to do as well. He also has an intimate knowledge on the LAK organization right now, who might be an ideal trading partner for one of our core players.

No GM is perfect, and I am not seeing any readily available candidate that has not made their fair share of mistakes. Marc is no different. But he does have one of the more impressive body's of work IMO. His connection to Quenville is really the factor that gives him the edge for me. Of course, I am just speculating they have a good working relationship based on their winning history. I do not know for certain that they do.

I'd go:

GM: Marc Bergevin
Coach: Joel Quenville

Great posts you are putting up

Biggest key with bergevin and his trading outside of the sergachev deal.. none of the young guys he threw around turned out as effective nhlers.. i think that is a good skill.. identifying who might have some sweeten value but is no long term loss

Credit goes to others in the room as well but something is there.. i like that component

 

[fahad203]

Do we know how many candidates we have interviewed so far?

 

[SprDaVE]

Do we know how many candidates we have interviewed so far?

Brad Treliving, Doug Wilson, Peter Chiarelli and Marc Bergevin have spoken to the Leafs. There are others but those names are the ones we know.

 

[Menzinger]

Are you saying that nothing will happen between now and 2025 (save for "can't refuse")?

I would think that Shanny would want to take advantage of the talent he has now (2023), and keep competing. As Burke alluded to yesterday, the next GM has one immediate challenge: Matthews. TOR needs to feel out if he wants to return. If so, sign him. If Matthews wants to wait, play the field, etc. then ablige him with a trade. Nylander can wait, and same goes for Marner. Nylander has a 10 team no trade that kicks in. That's no problem. They'll find a suitor within those constraints. Marner is 2024's problem.

At least until the 2024 offseason

Shanny hiring a new GM has bought himself more time to figure things out with the team. The simplest thing for him is to likely just extend Matthews and Nylander and then wait to make another decision about the core after the new GM has built a new support group and they potentially play under a new coach.

I think he'll be dissuaded from making a shakeup trade this summer due to there already being a but of organizational chaos, and it will look really bad for him if the return isn't a home run (especially if the team goes on to regress in the standings)

This potentially gets disrupted if Nylanders contract demands far surpass what the Leafs are comfortable paying, or another team calls calling with a can't refuse offer.

 

[ToDavid]

the fact that Shanny said he needs to speak to Bettman forces me to conclude he's hoping for 2 guys getting re-instated, and they are his first choice(s) (GM and coach)

Teams talk to the league about GM hires all the time.

It’s the reason bums like Chiarelli keep getting interviews.

Doug Wilson, Peter Chiarelli and Marc Bergevin have spoken to the Leafs. There are others but those names are the ones we know.

I know Friedman reported that Bergevin had a zoom meeting, I haven’t seen any confirmation for the other two.

 

[Stephen]

Great posts you are putting up

Biggest key with bergevin and his trading outside of the sergachev deal.. none of the young guys he threw around turned out as effective nhlers.. i think that is a good skill.. identifying who might have some sweeten value but is no long term loss

Credit goes to others in the room as well but something is there.. i like that component

Bergevin stunk in Montreal because he was mostly focused on building a big bruising blueline to insulate Carey Price. The fruit of that labour was basically one fluke run in 2021.

He was mostly terrible though his Pacioretty for Suzuki deal set Montreal up well.

 

[SprDaVE]

Teams talk to the league about GM hires all the time.

It’s the reason bums like Chiarelli keep getting interviews.



I know Friedman reported that Bergevin had a zoom meeting, I haven’t seen any confirmation for the other two.

Friedman reported that Chiarelli also had a zoom call on the same podcast as he said Bergevin had a zoom call. Friedman also confirmed Doug Wilson spoke to the Leafs, not sure in what capacity. I read another article that says Wilson was interviewed or spoken to.

 

[Stephen]

I think the only way that would play out is with a post-Shanahan Leafs.

at the moment I don't see a major core piece traded until next summer at the earliest unless whomever is at the front office gets a "cant refuse" offer from another team this offseason for one of the guys.

Shannys current contract goes until 2025 and he probably wants things with the team as competitive as possible during that period.

Well, in that case we better hope Knies jumps up and it becomes an expanded Big 6 with a resurgent Rielly and our new baby power forward.

 

[The Masters]

Jim nill sign yet? Whats he waiting for?

 

[Brobust]

the fact that Shanny said he needs to speak to Bettman forces me to conclude he's hoping for 2 guys getting re-instated, and they are his first choice(s) (GM and coach)

No, I think this is a pretty common thing. They always reach out to Bettman when there's an opening.

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

Friedman reported that Chiarelli also had a zoom call on the same podcast as he said Bergevin had a zoom call. Friedman also confirmed Doug Wilson spoke to the Leafs, not sure in what capacity. I read another article that says Wilson was interviewed or spoken to.

They should have just interviewed Chiarelli and Bergevin on the same zoom call to save some time

 

[Stephen]

They should have just interviewed Chiarelli and Bergevin on the same zoom call to save some time

It doesn’t hurt Shanahan to workshop what other random GM’s would do with the Leafs. If the organization has been an echo chamber, get some random voices and opinions in there to shake up the thinking for free.

 

[Stephen]

the fact that Shanny said he needs to speak to Bettman forces me to conclude he's hoping for 2 guys getting re-instated, and they are his first choice(s) (GM and coach)

Bettman is the league directory. Why not reach out for all available names.

 

[thusk]

Bergevin stunk in Montreal because he was mostly focused on building a big bruising blueline to insulate Carey Price. The fruit of that labour was basically one fluke run in 2021.

He was mostly terrible though his Pacioretty for Suzuki deal set Montreal up well.

And whats bergevin had in montreal to build on?

A great goalie and a good defensive team too good to really make a rebuild but not enough good to be a real contender...

So yes hes building around his bes player and around habs strenght...

Lack of real offensive impact player forced Bergevin to make bad move like sergachev vs drouin and hopimg drouin become a center...

Biggest mistake of bergevin was to trust too much trevor Timmins...

 

[Twine Tickler]

Bergevin didn't really do anything well in Montreal. Drafting was poor. He signed a bunch of anchors that never worked out, and his trade record is mediocre at best too.

Dubas to Bergevin is a massive step back for us. His teams went as far as Price took him.

Ya I mean I think a lot of the available candidates are a step back from Kyle Dubas if I am being honest. Like I said, no GM that is readily available with "experience" has a perfect track record or even resume that is worthy of drooling over IMO. It is also why I was upset in letting Kyle go in the first place. But such is life, we move onward.

Marc Bergevin isn't afraid to be bold. He's also a guy who isn't afraid to make decisions that may push the envelope on what is publicly acceptable (ie. hire Joel Quenville). Afterall, this was the GM who drafted Logan Mailloux. Not that I endorse that selection, but Marc made that selection because the NHL didn't do anything to prevent him, or any team for that matter, from doing so. There were no ramifications for the player pre-draft, so Marc made the decision that was best for his hockey club. He knew exactly the outrage he was set to face as a result. We can debate all we want about the lack of character Logan had at the time he was drafted, or still has, but the fact of the matter was that Marc made a decision that he felt was best for his club at that time. He did not care about the public backlash that would come from it. We need an element of that in our front office IMO. We need someone who isn't afraid to make hard decisions. Someone who is willing to crack a couple eggs to make that omlette.

I want to reiterate, I don't personally agree with the Mailloux selection. But I think it shows equal parts of ignorance and balls to make that move. As long as we have the right people in place to sensor some of that ignorance, I think we can stand to benefit from some of his bravado.

I just feel like Marc would not be afraid to put our core on watch and make a move that might ruffle some feathers. He handled the Kotkaniemi situation with the same nugs we are going to need to handle the impending Matthews extension. Play ball with us, or play ball elsewhere. Same goes for Mitch.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Great posts you are putting up

Biggest key with bergevin and his trading outside of the sergachev deal.. none of the young guys he threw around turned out as effective nhlers.. i think that is a good skill.. identifying who might have some sweeten value but is no long term loss

Credit goes to others in the room as well but something is there.. i like that component

He also identified Phillip Danault from his days in Chicago as a player that was worth coveting. Or at least I assume had a large say in that deal. He basically gave up nothing for him, and acquired a very integral piece of their team for the next 6 seasons.

He's made plenty of mistakes as GM. So too has Dubas, Treliving or any other GM with experience on the market today. But I think there is enough there to suggest he has a good eye for talent.

Drafting probably needs to be better, but who knows who is completely to blame on that front.

All I know is he's the guy I think represents the best option. In conjunction with Q

 

[barilko05]

I never understood Bergevin's thinking on the Mailloux debacle. It's fine to say "screw everybody, this is my guy" if he's the 2nd coming of Wayne, but we're talking about a (very) late 1st rounder, not a consensus 1st overall. There had to be a dozen guys available that were comparable or better without all that baggage. If the kid was a no doubt top 5 talent who dropped because of what he did, okay...take a shot and damn the torpedos. But he wasn't, and probably isn't ever going to be so good that you damage the club's reputation, or your own, by drafting him that high, especially when nobody else was going to touch him with a ten foot hockey stick. That's reckless and frankly, I don't want that guy running this club. And if I was Tannenbaum and the board, I'd feel the same way.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I never understood Bergevin's thinking on the Mailloux debacle. It's fine to say "screw everybody, this is my guy" if he's the 2nd coming of Wayne, but we're talking about a (very) late 1st rounder, not a consensus 1st overall. There had to be a dozen guys available that were comparable or better without all that baggage. If the kid was a no doubt top 5 talent who dropped because of what he did, okay...take a shot and damn the torpedos. But he wasn't, and probably isn't ever going to be so good that you damage the club's reputation, or your own, by drafting him that high, especially when nobody else was going to touch him with a ten foot hockey stick. That's reckless and frankly, I don't want that guy running this club. And if I was Tannenbaum and the board, I'd feel the same way.

Now take that line of thinking to its logical conclusion. The TML brand’s safety is more important than the TML team success to Tanenbaum and Bell/Rogers.

Doesn’t matter if a Quenneville, Brunette, Voynov, E Kane, Bertuzzi, Provorov etc is the best addition for the team’s chances of winning, protecting the brand comes first.

The board would have traded Gilmour and tried to blacklist him from the league the microsecond it came out that he likes 16 year old babysitters. Clark would have been gone the second time he sent someone to the quiet room.

 

[Notsince67]

And whats bergevin had in montreal to build on?

A great goalie and a good defensive team too good to really make a rebuild but not enough good to be a real contender...

So yes hes building around his bes player and around habs strenght...

Lack of real offensive impact player forced Bergevin to make bad move like sergachev vs drouin and hopimg drouin become a center...

Biggest mistake of bergevin was to trust too much trevor Timmins...

I figured he went after Droin because they wanted more Quebec born stars and he became available. I didn't think it was a positional thing