The Toronto Maple Leafs chaos is spreading like wildfire since they surprisingly fired Brad Treliving on Monday – the timing of it, and not that he was fired. They are not in a rush to name a replacement or announce how they will structure part of their front office. Will hiring just a GM, or will they look at doing a GM and a president of hockey operations?
Sportsnet 590 The Fan: Elliotte Friedman doesn’t think there is a rush to name a GM, but they’ve already been doing to work. Would the Blues grant permission to talk with Doug Armstrong? Mike Gillis is a name that could be of interest.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Cuthbert: “Is there reason to rush on this decision?
Friedman: “I don’t necessarily think there’s reason to rush. Like, it’s very clear to me that they’ve been doing work already.
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That Doug Armstrong thing
Okay, so like the Doug Armstrong thing. I don’t think anybody here really knows yet what his availability actually is. You know, Nick wrote this yesterday, and I’ve heard the same thing. There is a lot of conflicting information as to how available he really is.
The last time the job opened up, when Treliving got it, I think there were people in the organization who at least wanted to talk to him, and Tom Stillman, was the owner of the St Louis Blues said, ‘Nope. Doug Armstrong is under contract, and he is our GM.’ And it was shot down. Doug Armstrong has a contract to be, I don’t even know, I can’t remember what it is, but basically, Alex Steen’s mentor for the next two years.
NHLRumour Report: Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet: “There are conflicting reports out there if Doug Armstrong actually has an out window this summer; there is buzz that St. Louis ownership has tired of the Toronto rumours. We will have to keep a close eye on this situation in the coming weeks.”
Cuthbert: “And this is like a reworded contract?
Friedman: “Yeah, it’s not the GM, VP, GM, whatever president, whatever he was. He’s, like, basically a mentor.
Cuthbert: “Okay, hard to put in writing, but I guess…
Friedman: “Don’t get caught up Justin. Don’t get caught up in the title.
Cuthbert: “But that’s, that’s the one thing that could prevent it.
Friedman: “No.
Cuthbert: “It’s a contractual obligation.
Friedman: “He has a signed contract. Okay? He has a signed contract. So let’s not get this to, make this harder than it needs to be. He has a signed contract. The question is, does he have an out? Would St Louis let him go? And nobody seems to have a straight answer to that right now. That’s what we got to find out.
JD Bunkis this morning, James (Mirtle) was on. He talked about Jim Nill. Jim Nill does not have a contract beyond the season, but now he does. They are, I just reported they’re, they’ve got an extension coming for him. I don’t know when they’re announcing it, but they’ve got an extension coming.
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Mike Gillis could be a candidate
I think one of the names that has kind of been floating around because they’re interested in what he did in his past job, I think potentially, is Mike Gillis. I think that is the name that they’ve kind of looked at, and I can see why.
He took a team that was really struggling and took them to the edge of the Stanley Cup final. I don’t know that it’s going to be Mike Gillis, but I think that he is the kind of person that they’ve been looking at so far.
And we’ll also see what shakes loose. Who else shakes loose? Justin, there are going to be people lining up for this job. Lining up for it. I don’t care what anybody says.
Cam Robinson: “Growing buzz around Mike Gillis as a potential fit in Toronto. If the Leafs are serious about a philosophical shift, he’s one of the most interesting names out there. Bold decision-maker. Proven track record. Should be at the top of the list.” Taj: Thomas Drance on Canucks Talk on Mike Gillis: “Part of the reason his conversations for openings with Caps, Sens, FLA and various other teams went a certain way and I know this for fact, Gillis is a my way or highway guy. Mayor of Oak Bay lives a good life and has earned a lot of money over his career. If he’s coming to a job it’s going to be his way or not and he’s going to tell you before you hire him and a lot of people don’t like hearing it. It’s not a good interview strategy but it might be what a situation in Toronto needs.”
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