Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: GM of the Future

With the 2017-18 season shaping to be Lou Lamoriello’s last as General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, rumours have been swirling surrounding who will replace him.

As of now, the consensus choice is Kyle Dubas, and for good reason. The 33-year-old wunderkind has completely overhauled the Leafs minor league system, built the Marlies into a juggernaut, and greatly influenced the development of young stars.

But, nothing is ever set in stone. And nowhere is that truer than in hockey.

Other than Dubas, who do you think would be the best choice to take over as Leafs GM? Well, that’s exactly what the EIL staff sought to answer in this week’s mailbag.

Mike Stephens

The obvious choice here, especially when looking at the wonderful job he’s done in Edmonton, is Peter Chiarelli.

Just kidding! Can you imagine? He’d probably trade William Nylander for Connor Murphy or another mid-pairing defenceman because he better fits Pistol Pete’s definition of “character”.

No, my real choice here is Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning. I chose him for two reasons.

Obviously, because he’s been an integral component in building the deepest and most effective talent pool in the NHL. And also, were the Leafs to take him off the market, the Montreal Canadiens would be left with significantly fewer options when they inevitably can Marc Bergevin.

Messing with the Habs is always hilarious.

BriseBois is part of the same team who unearthed diamonds in the rough like Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde. Not to mention, the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa’s AHL team, is an absolute force.

They’re stocked to the brim with speed and talent and serve as the only team in the Marlies’ conference who could pose a substantial threat come playoff time.

When choosing a GM, the foremost criteria I look for is developing prowess. If you can’t usher young players into the big leagues regularly, you seriously handicap the potential of your franchise.

BriseBois checks that box emphatically, along with a few others. For that, he’s my non-Dubas pick.

Lauren Kelly

Should the Leafs choose not to give Kyle Dubas the GM title after Lou Lamoriello leaves (whether or not that is this summer remains to be seen), there are a couple of ways they could go.

Outside Option

If they look outside the organization to fill Lamoriello’s spot (which seems highly unlikely given that they have two excellent candidates in Dubas and Mark Hunter), I’d be interested to see if Tampa Bay would be willing to let Julian BriseBois go. He’s been with the Lightning since 2010.

As the current AGM of the Lightning and GM of the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), BriseBois’ credentials are extremely impressive. During his tenure with the Crunch, they have produced two AHL MVPs, and a defenseman of the year. Nearly half the current Tampa Bay roster are graduates of Syracuse from the last six seasons.

BriseBois manages the CBA and salary cap for the Lightning and assists with player personnel decisions, analytics, development, contract negotiation, and salary arbitration for both the Bolts and the Crunch. If Steve Yzerman is willing to part ways with his number two, there will be a number of teams clamouring to get him on board (namely, the Montreal Canadiens).

So, if the Leafs want to look outside, I’d suggest BriseBois as a darkhorse candidate.

In-House Option

However, I think the logical choice for their GM position is Mark Hunter. The Director of Player Personnel has been in the Leafs front office for about three and a half years now (will become four years in October).

Before Brendan Shanahan hired Lamoriello, Hunter and Dubas were named interim general managers after Dave Nonis’ firing and was promoted to assistant general manager in the summer of 2016.

He currently shares this role with Dubas, so if the Leafs still feel Dubas is too young for the job (something I highly doubt since it’s been four years since his hiring and 28-year old John Chayka is the GM of the Arizona Coyotes), he is definitely the most logical option.

Hunter is familiar with the Leafs organization, its standards, the personnel and players, and the direction management and the coaching staff have in place for the team’s near future. Hunter spent 12 years as the general manager of the London Knights (OHL) before being hired in Toronto, so he has longterm experience in the role, albeit not in the NHL.

He is well-known and respected by his peers, players and throughout the hockey world. However, having spent nearly four years with the Leafs now, he shouldn’t have any problem assuming the GM position in the NHL.

Josh Tessler

If the rumours are true and Lou Lamoriello’s contract will not be renewed, Kyle Dubas would be the likely choice.

Personally, if I were Brendan Shanahan, I would talk to the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Ken Holland and the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, Stanley Bowman.

After this season, Holland will be out of a contract and will most likely be looking for a fresh start. The last couple of seasons in Detroit have produced mediocre hockey and Holland will be looking for a new place to call home. He’d be a great choice for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he built a dynasty in Detroit.

Holland brought superstars including Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Shanahan and others to the Red Wings. His scouting and eye for talented hockey players helped bring four Stanley cups to Detroit. Not only does Holland have ties to Shanahan, he also hired Mike Babcock once upon a time.

Additionally, Holland was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1975. So, Holland has a lot of ties to the city of Toronto and the Maple Leafs.

Stan Bowman

Bowman would also be a solid choice. While Holland was building a dynasty in Detroit, Bowman was building one in Chicago. Bowman has done a solid job over the years of scouting and drafting talented assets including Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

From 2001 to 2009, he served as a special assistant to the Dale Talon and replace Talon in 09. Based on Bowman’s success in Chicago, he would be a great fit in Toronto.

Unfortunately, the chance of landing Bowman would be slim. James Mirtle wrote a post for The Athletic and talked about Bowman being a potential casualty this off-season, but it’s doubtful that he leaves the Blackhawks.

Yes, Chicago has had a terrible season, but Bowman has brought so much success to the Blackhawks franchise that it’ll be near to impossible to drag him out.

Wilbert Timmermans

Truth to be told, I don’t know. For me, it is important that whoever is transitioned into the position of GM, operates perfectly in the team that remains.

As James Tanner wrote some days ago, not much is known about how the team is run and how. For me it’s certain though, the team is run pretty well. I personally believe that Lou Lamoriello will step down as the Toronto Maple Leafs GM when he thinks the “rebuild” is complete, something he could likely think since the team is on its way to a consecutive playoff appearance.

Since Elliotte Friedman reported that he believes Lamoriello is under contract for more years with the organization, he will perhaps transition into the role of an advisory. If this is true, which I hope it is, it’s important the next person who will carry the title of GM can work with that.

Having a big name within the organization with, I assume, still, a lot of influence can be frustrating for a GM. The new GM should be one who knows how to help the organization grow into its new position, contenders.

The rebuild is done, the organization is healthy and filled with quality players and prospects.

So obviously, if not Kyle Dubas, look at GM’s that have experience with teams in the position that Toronto is in right now.

James Tanner

(Editor’s Note: You have permission to torch Tanner in the comments for this one)

If the Leafs are not going to give the reins to Kyle Dubas, then the only other good candidate is me.

You certainly can’t hire some NHL lifer who thinks he knows everything because he used to be a player. That almost never works – Shanahan is the exception, not the rule. About 100 years ago, the Devils took a chance on a math teacher coaching college hockey. Partly because their team was the joke of the NHL and their owner was insane.

That guy turned out to be Lou Lamoriello.

While I think basically any old idiot could do what 90% of NHL GMs do (that is, make terrible decisions based on guessing and feelings) I do not think I’m actually a good candidate.

But I’m also not joking.

The Leafs have a gem in Dubas and cannot pass up this opportunity to inject some youth and intelligence, so if they are willing to pass that up, then they’re idiots.

And as such, they might as well hire me. You get the logic.

The first thing I’d do is promote Martin Marincin to the NHL, fire Mike Babcock and install myself as the coach so I wouldn’t be a very popular choice.

All the more reason to go with Dubas.

Next: If You Wanna Get Pumped About the Leafs, Read This

Thanks for reading!