Maple Leafs GM: Brad Treliving has permission to speak to the club

Yesterday, the Maple Leafs surprised many by announcing that Kyle Dubas would not be returning as the organization’s general manager. Following a rather strange sequence of events this week, Brendan Shanahan made the decision yesterday morning.

The search for a new GM is now underway in Toronto. In the meantime, Brandon Pridham will be the interim GM, and with so many big decisions to come, let’s just say he’ll have his work cut out for him.

But Shanahan made it clear yesterday: he’s looking for an experienced general manager. We don’t seem to want to go back to a GM who will be taking his first steps in the job.

Among the logical candidates at the experienced GM level is Brad Treliving, recently relieved of his duties by the Calgary Flames. And according to Eric Francis, the Maple Leafs have obtained permission to talk to him about their vacancy.

The Penguins also had the same permission.

That said, there is one clarification to be made: Treliving has the right to chat with both clubs on condition that he doesn’t talk about the draft and amateur scouting with the other clubs. After all, he spent the year in Calgary and the Flames don’t want the other two teams to have access to their entire strategy, which makes sense.

So, Treliving will be able to share his vision for the team and talk about free-roaming players and contracts, but between now and the end of the 2023 draft, he won’t be allowed to talk about the draft with the other teams.

I really wonder whether a team could hire him as GM before the draft, given that he wouldn’t be able to discuss the subject with the rest of the organization. If he is hired, he could only deal with his own players for a few weeks.

If not, Stan Bowman’s name has also been linked to the club. After losing his job in Chicago in the wake of the Kyle Beach scandal, he could bounce back in Toronto.

Otherwise, Elliotte Friedman raised Doug Armstrong’s name. Seems unlikely (he just signed an extension with the Blues), but you never know.

So it’ll be a case to watch, but there’s clearly interest in Treliving’s services across the NHL. All that remains to be seen is whether a team will offer him the GM position, and if so, whether it will be before or after the draft.

In gusto

– William Nylander didn’t go to the World Championship because he didn’t want to steal another player’s spot (and possibly his brother’s).

– Kirk Muller back in coaching talks.

– Viktor Arvidsson could be traded this summer.

– Indeed.

– File to watch in the NBA.