The bulk of Toronto Maple Leafs rumors at this point suggest that the most burning issue at this point is the organization’s search for a new general manager (GM). But beyond the questions surrounding the search itself, the biggest issue lies in who the organization would target as a potential successor for Brad Treliving.
As murky as that situation may be, one notable insider has dropped some insight into the direction the Leafs’ search for their new GM could be heading.
During the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman expounded on the situation, naming names as potential candidates to take over the GM chair in Toronto.
“There’s a report that they’ve talked to John Chayka already. I’ve heard rumors about… I’ve heard Dean Lombardi’s name, that he has interest in this; Another guy who was data-driven, that looks a lot better now, is Kevyn Adams.”
Friedman doubled down on Maple Leafs rumors, making it clear that there is “a ton of interest” in the position. There will be numerous candidates looking to get their foot in the door. But at the end of the day, the chosen candidate will need to exhibit the traits the organization is looking for.
That said, Friedman made a surprising declaration about a fascinating internal candidate.
“I’ve heard that (Keith) Pelley thinks very highly of Hayley Wickenheiser.”
Wickenheiser, former Team Canada captain and Olympic gold medalist, is an assistant GM with the organization. That’s why it would be surprising to hear her name pop up even more in Maple Leafs rumors regarding the vacant GM position.
Maple Leafs Rumors Should Focus on Established Names
While there might be the temptation to look into unorthodox candidates, the fact of the matter is that the Maple Leafs would most likely focus on established names. The reason is that the team wants to find stability moving forward.
Additionally, Maple Leafs rumors point towards the next team GM being someone who can understand the way that data and analytics can help make better decisions. That was one of the points Friedman drilled home in this discussion.
That makes Wickenheiser, who’s already within the organization, a natural candidate to take over. The search for other candidates will likely go on, of course. But there’s a sense that the 47-year-old former Olympian could be the frontrunner.
Leafs Likely to Start with POHO
For all the Maple Leafs rumors out there, the biggest bit of news will likely come with the opening for President of Hockey Operations (POHO). Friedman made an interesting statement regarding this position.
The notable insider pointed out that the vacancy this season, following Brendan Shanahan’s departure last year, made it challenging for Treliving to juggle duties as the GM and interfacing with higher-ups.
That’s why there’s a clear need for a POHO who can liaise between the hockey ops side of the equation and the upper executives. As a result, it makes sense that the organization would start hiring at the top and gradually trickle down into the other available positions.
So, if Wickenheiser is indeed the preferred candidate, it might still take some time for the Maple Leafs to ultimately decide she’s the one. It won’t happen until the POHO takes over and the rest of the pieces fall into place.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Maple Leafs Rumors: Insider Names Potential GM Candidates appeared first on Heavy Sports.