As of Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs had not asked anyone for permission to speak with candidates for a new GM. Still, there’s a lot of speculation about who Leafs and MLSE President Keith Pelley might want to talk to when the search for a new GM begins.
Some names are predictable. For example, Doug Armstrong, of St. However, he cannot just get up and leave without permission since he already has a contract. Some well-known names will also be noticed. Brandon Pridham, already with the Maple Leafs, is one.
But what about the words we hear that aren’t obvious choices?
Mike Gillis
Former Vancouver Canucks GM/president (2008-2014), Mike Gillis is also mentioned. Following his stint with the Canucks, Gillis wasn’t seen or heard from much, but he was there. He worked at the University of Victoria from 2021-2023, then took a job with the NHL as a consultant to the NHLPA.
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Elliotte Friedman brought up Gillis in a recent report, saying, “One of the names that’s been floating around because there’s interest in what he did in a previous job, I think it might be Mike Gillis.” He added, “That’s the name they’re looking for, I can see why. He took a struggling team to the Stanley Cup Final. I don’t know if it’s going to be Mike Gillis, but he’s the type of person they’ve been looking at until now.”
A former lawyer and agent, he thought outside the box and had success with the Canucks. The Leafs seem to be looking for a tough, but experienced thinker. Still, he’s not the first to come to mind because he hasn’t held a senior NHL role since being fired by the Canucks in 2014.
Chris Pronger
Hall of Fame defenseman, who has become a popular voice in hockey and the talking world, Chris Pronger is getting unexpected attention as a potential candidate for the Leafs. Nick Kypreos recently revealed that there has been contact between the two regarding a possible role in the organization.
He is a Stanley Cup winner and an outspoken leader who values culture and personal growth. He was also one of the most feared players of his time. If culture is valued more than the office experience, Pronger may get a long look.
He has some experience with the Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers, so it won’t be a completely new gig for him. And, of all the managers who could handle the pressure of being in the Toronto market, Pronger seems the least likely to be isolated.
Sunny Mehta
Sunny Mehta is a name most Leafs fans will not be familiar with. He is the Assistant GM of the Florida Panthers and a key architect behind their recent success, including two Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Friedman spoke about him recently, saying in Saturday’s headlines that he felt Mehta could be a serious prospect. He said, “It doesn’t seem like the timing is right with the Maple Leafs and Doug Armstrong,” however, one name expected to be discussed is Sunny Mehta.
With a non-traditional background in data science, he represents a modern, analytics-driven approach. Keith Pelley said the candidate will take a data-driven approach. Mehta was heavily involved in contracts, analysis and team building under Bill Zito.
He is a surprising but interesting candidate for the role of GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
