The chatter involving the Toronto Maple Leafs and their search for a new GM has taken numerous twists and turns.
Several names have emerged among insiders, with fans and the media speculating about who could be the potential frontrunner(s) for the job.
That said, one situation few have discussed is the possibility of the Maple Leafs promoting from within. While the focus of the chatter has been on external candidates, the organization would do well to look at its current crop of executives.
In particular, one internal candidate stands out: Shane Doan.
Doan joined the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2023-24 season. He came aboard after spending time with the defunct Arizona Coyotes as the club’s chief hockey development officer. It wasn’t also a coincidence that Doan was the face of the Coyotes during the time Auston Matthews was a tyke in Arizona.
The NHL great joined the Maple Leafs staff as a special adviser to Brad Treliving. Now, some may question what exactly Doan was saying to Treliving, considering the questionable moves the erstwhile Leafs GM made.
But the fact of the matter is that if there’s anyone who’s well-suited to slide into the role, it’s Doan. If anything, the move would be similar to the one the Buffalo Sabres made earlier this season.
The Sabres hired former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen as a special adviser. When the organization decided that it was time to move on from Kevyn Adams, Kekalainen slid into the role seamlessly.
So, why don’t the Maple Leafs just promote Doan and be done with it?
The situation, well, isn’t quite so cut and dry. The biggest issue is not necessarily the GM role. It’s the President of Hockey Operations (POHO) gig.
Maple Leafs Likely Fill POHO Role Before GM Vacancy
The ongoing chatter is that the Maple Leafs want to fill the POHO role ahead of naming a new GM. That seems fair, considering the organization wants to focus on a top-down approach.
As such, the need to fill out the POHO role before the GM job responds to the new POHO being on board with Doan taking over. It wouldn’t even be surprising to see the organization building a list of candidates for the POHO to gloss over once they are in the role.
That’s why Doan, even if he is the best candidate, might not get the Maple Leafs’ rubber stamp just yet.
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Doan May Be in the Sights
The other side of this equation is that the organization feels that Doan is part of the problem and not part of the solution. Perhaps the team feels that Doan didn’t quite fulfill the role he was hired to do.
Maybe Doan will eventually become a casualty of the purported house cleaning that’s set to take place.
Be that as it may, all of this is speculation. No one is really privy to the internal conversations between Doan and Treliving. Moreover, no one has the certitude regarding the organization’s plans moving forward.
What does seem interesting, notwithstanding, is all the circumstantial evidence surrounding the issue. A move should be coming sooner rather than later. But until there’s any clarity, fans and the media are left to wonder what may happen.
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