For the second straight year, the Ottawa Senators have spotted their Round 1 opponent a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Some things never change. Once that crappy music video came out, you just knew they were doomed. Again.
Birthday boy David Pagnotta was in for Jay Rosehill as co-host on the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Firstly, we hit on Thursday night’s playoff action. Most notably, the team Toronto pumped in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are on the brink once again. Carolina edged Ottawa 2-1 in Game 3. Meantime, Colorado doubled up Los Angeles 4-2 to also grab a commanding 3-0 series lead. Additionally, Alex Lyon made 24 stops as Buffalo grabbed a 2-1 series lead on Boston with a 3-1 victory.
Next, we turned our attention to the Toronto Maple Leafs. While no official hire has been made yet, there are a few notable developments in the GM search. According to Elliotte Friedman, the race appears to be narrowing, with Dallas assistant GM Scott White and John Chayka emerging as the leading candidates. Friedman also noted that Ryan Martin was part of the final group but has since been informed he’s out of the running, while Evan Gold is also no longer in consideration. That said, the process is still ongoing and nothing has been finalized. There also remains some uncertainty around where Mike Gillis fits into the picture, if at all. Additionally, Mats Sundin’s name has surfaced as someone who could potentially be involved in some capacity within the organization. At this stage, it sounds like the Leafs are ultimately targeting one key position: Head of Hockey Operations.
After that, TSN Hockey Analyst Jamie McLennan stopped by to unpack the ongoing GM search and the organization’s broader direction. Noodles emphasized the importance of MLSE conducting a thorough process with no shortcuts, while noting Scott White as an intriguing candidate due to his experience working alongside Jim Nill in Dallas. He also discussed what priorities should define the next GM’s mandate, the potential role of former Leafs in the front office, and the need for a swift decision on Craig Berube once a new GM is in place. To wrap, McLennan stressed the importance of surrounding the organization with proven winners and outlined what it will take for Toronto to re-establish itself as a true Stanley Cup contender.
Lastly, Jay Rosehill will be back in the mix on the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We’ll have the latest on the Leafs’ GM search. Plus, free agent head coach Bruce Cassidy will drop by the show once again.