Check out the latest on the Maple Leafs, plus a list of coaches on the hot seat in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST MAPLE LEAFS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Joshua Kloke reports Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has no intention of finding an exit after this season ends.
“My desire to stay in Toronto is always going to be there,” Rielly said. “There’s a number of (reasons), but a big one is loyalty. Loyalty to the team that drafted you, I think that’s a powerful thing.”
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (NHL Images).
Rielly has four seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $7.5 million. He’s a productive puck-mover, but has struggled defensively this season. That’s raised questions about his future in Toronto as the Maple Leafs make changes in the front office.
Asked if he’d consider waiving his no-movement clause if approached to do so by management, Rielly admitted it’s a possibility, saying it’s something as a player that you have to be prepared for. He also said he was not approached about waiving his clause before last month’s trade deadline.
Rielly told Kloke that he still believes in the team. He also wants to play a leadership role if management decides the Leafs must get younger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly could waive his clause if asked to do so, but it doesn’t mean that he will. Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues used his no-trade to spike a deal to the Buffalo Sabres last month. Rielly could do the same if asked to waive it for a destination that he’s not comfortable with.
It seems unlikely that Rielly or any of the Leafs core players will be moved this summer unless they ask to be traded. In his case, he definitely doesn’t want to go.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils received permission from the Florida Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta about their vacant GM positions.
On March 30, the Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving. Earlier this week, the Devils did the same with Tom Fitzgerald.
TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons noted the Maple Leafs’ interest in Mehta and in Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky (who isn’t available). He believes the Leafs should pursue more established management candidates rather than analytics experts. Simmons suggested going after someone comparable to Mehta’s boss, Bill Zito, who built the Panthers into a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The flaw with Simmons’ argument (apart from his disdain for analytics) is that there is no one like Bill Zito available right now.
Some Toronto pundits have been pining for Doug Armstrong, but he’s staying with the St. Louis Blues as team president. Marc Bergevin and Dean Lombardi have had varying degrees of success as NHL general managers. However, Bergevin’s record was a mixed bag in Montreal, and it’s been nearly a decade since Lombardi was a general manager.
We know that the Maple Leafs want a “data-driven” GM. What matters now is whether they can find the right one. Pining for a more established, old-school guy isn’t going to change that fact.
Could Mehta be the type of general manager to reverse the Leafs fortunes quickly? Maybe. Maybe not. But the pickings are slim right now, and Mehta has considerable analytics experience and two recent Stanley Cup titles on his resume. If you’re seeking a new general manager, you must go after the best available talent.
COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The recent coaching changes involving the New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights have Adam Proteau looking at which bench bosses could be on the hot seat as the regular season winds down.
Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers tops the list. He could be a goner if the Oilers fail to win the Stanley Cup this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs decline this season means Craig Berube’s days behind their bench could be over once the regular season is finished. Whoever replaces former GM Brad Treliving could want their own head coach.
Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators could also be replaced once they find a suitable substitute for outgoing GM Barry Trotz. Sheldon Keefe of the New Jersey Devils could suffer the same fate.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Berube is the most likely of this group to be relieved of their coaching duties. His defensive system doesn’t suit the way the Maple Leafs are built, and the pressure is on to find someone who can quickly help to reverse their fortunes.