Like it or not, the Toronto Maple Leafs are heading for an eventful summer. The Leafs took the decision to fire general manager Brad Treliving on Monday night, sending a clear message that things need to change sooner rather than later.
With Treliving fired, the Leafs GM job will soon become one of the most coveted ones in the NHL, but filling the role is easier said than done. A number of names have been bandied about as replacements to fill Treliving’s shoes. One among them is three-time recipient of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, Jim Nill.
Maple Leafs’ Hopes of Hiring Jim Nill Shot Down
On Tuesday afternoon, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that while the Leafs were rumored to be interested in bringing Nill to town, those dreams will have to remain in the ether. Friedman tweeted that the Dallas Stars are finalizing a contract extension to keep Nill in town.
Stars insider Lia Assimakopoulos also confirmed that Nill is not even close to leaving Texas for Ontario. In fact, Nill has reportedly signed on for another two years, taking him through the 2027-28 season.
That leaves the Leafs in somewhat of a bind, even if Nill was a long-shot contender to fill Treliving’s boots. They could go down the tried-and-tested route and look at someone like Doug Armstrong, who’s set to hand over the reins at the St. Louis Blues to former Leafs forward Alex Steen. While he’s set to stay on as the president of hockey operations, the fact that Armstrong has also given up the GM’s role with Hockey Canada could free him up to take over in Toronto.
One popular name Leafs fans have been asking about is Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger.
Pronger has been a regular on podcasts and on the NHL Network as an analyst and has been vocal about wanting to effect change at an NHL franchise. However, he also stressed that it would have to be the right fit, and he’s open to a conversation with any franchise in the league.
Bill Scott, assistant GM of the Edmonton Oilers, could also be worth a look. Scott interviewed for the GM role with the Nashville Predators earlier this month.
The Leafs could still promote from within, but management is more likely to conduct a thorough search and take its time before whittling down the list of names to take over from Treliving.
All things considered, this summer is shaping up to be an extremely eventful one in Toronto. With Treliving gone, head coach Craig Berube’s future is also under consideration, given how quickly things have unravelled this year. Then there’s the future of Auston Matthews, who’s out for the season. The Leafs captain will likely have a sit-down with the brass in Toronto to gauge where the franchise is heading before making any decisions.
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