It may not be particularly surprising, but another detail has emerged as the Toronto Maple Leafs look to appoint their next president of hockey operations and/or general manager.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Maple Leafs were not granted permission to speak to Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois. BriseBois is widely considered among the best executives in the NHL, overseeing a dynasty that won two Stanley Cups, while remaining a perpetual contender over the past decade, starting out as an AGM for the Lightning in 2010, before being promoted to his current role in 2018.
“Toronto: James Mirtle of The Athletic had a line about ‘Toronto being turned down’ asking to speaking to a current general manager. I believe that was Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning. I don’t think anyone is shocked here that the Lightning would say no,” Friedman said on Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
Friedman reiterated that the Maple Leafs are working towards a structure involving Mats Sundin and John Chayka. It is widely believed that Sundin will become vice president of hockey operations, while Chayka will be appointed as general manager. Toronto has yet to finalize the announcements, but it’s widely believed that Sundin is negotiating his upcoming contract.
“I do think at the beginning, everyone was like ‘let’s bring you back into the organization’ and it evolved into ‘we want you to have a bigger role’ and I think everybody had to understand everybody else’s expectations of what this was going to be about,” Friedman said about Sundin. “As last I heard on Thursday, there was still confidence this was moving in the proper direction, but nothing is done until it’s done.”
MLSE CEO Keith Pelley told reporters that in an utopia, the hirings would be completed by May. With the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft Lottery on the horizon, the Maple Leafs are conducting a diligent search, but will need some key decision-makers in place before the NHL Draft. Toronto is hoping to secure the first overall pick with 8.5 percent odds of doing so. If the Maple Leafs’ pick falls out of the top-five, it will convert to the Boston Bruins.
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