If Maple Leafs are looking at Mike Gillis, it should be for President of Hockey Operations role

The year was 2023, the Kyle Dubas era had just ended, and it was an exciting time for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they could boldly cut a new path and cash out on a lineup that kept them competitive throughout the regular season but consistently fell flat in the playoffs. It was an exciting time and for an organization that can spare no expense, there was a chance to go with a top hockey executive or the most cutting edge up and comer. They chose Brad Treliving. They paid for that decision ever since.

Heading into the 2023 selection period, I tossed out a name that made a lot of sense to me: Mike Gillis. There wasn’t a lot of talk about him in 2023, but there probably should have been. There is talk about him now, so let’s revisit what Mike Gillis could potentially bring to the table.

Gillis’ time in Vancouver was punctuated by the Canucks’ Stanley Cup appearance and his work in building that squad was essential. He signed both Sedins to incredible contracts at time when Brian Burke seemed to be taking out full page ads in Sweden to entice them to come to Toronto, he’d sign Roberto Luongo to a long term deal, ensuring that a top flight goaltender would always be there for them. The supporting cast of Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Kevin Bieksa, Willie Mitchell and Alex Edler, amongst others would make for a roster that would be difficult to face on any given night, and the best parts of their team were almost entirely brought up through their own system.

The Canucks drafted well, they developed well, their AHL team was strong, and the players seemed to know what was required of them. The Canucks might not have been the most fun of teams, especially with Alain Vigneault behind the bench, but they won, and I’m sure Canucks fans found that fun, especially in hindsight after seeing what the post Gillis decade has brought them.

Gillis is an option that meets the Maple Leafs moment. When Gillis replaced Dave Nonis, one of the first decisions he faced was whether or not to re-sign Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison. Gillis let them walk and swiftly turned the team around with the new direction for the team. A lot of Gillis’ decisions weren’t popular at the time, but the team thrived. He didn’t make the coaching change, he stood by Vigneault and worked with him. He worked with what he had in the system and made it work, fast. If the Maple Leafs are looking at a retool, this could be their guy.

Gillis is a strategic thinker and one capable of making difficult decisions based on staying loyal to the plan over the personnel, though the players that stayed and bought into the plan had the best years of their career on his team. He could be an interesting GM candidate, but his big picture focus might make him the right call for the President of Hockey Operations role instead. There is nothing to prevent Gillis from being a hands on President as some teams have seen (including his form club with Jim Rutherford), and allows for a best of both worlds option of the Leafs exploring what an experienced proven winner like Gillis can bring to the role, while taking a look at a first time GM in that role.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Gillis bringing one time successful collaborator, Laurence Gilman, back into the Leafs organization to fill the GM role, but the fact that Gillis previously showed his success with working what existed in the organization before he arrived, he might also be the right guy to elevate someone like Brandon Pridham, Ryan Hardy, or Hayley Wickenheiser to the GM seat and supporting them, while focusing on the larger cultural issues and direction of the team, as well as alignment. One of the biggest parts of the Canucks success was alignment and Gillis might be the right guy to get the Maple Leafs on track in that regard as well.

An old guard option, sure, but Gillis might be the inspired option compared to the likes of Doug Armstrong or Dean Lombardi. Gillis would represent something different than someone like Chris Pronger who at least in spirit feels like running back the Shanahan era and will require a bit more of a learning curve, like Brendan did.

Gillis might not be your first choice, but he should at least be considered one of the better options for the Maple Leafs.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply