The General Manager searches continue in three markets
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman was on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday Headlines with Ron MacLean and was asked about the ongoing general manager searches happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Canucks, Maple Leafs, Devils, Panthers, and Predators
MacLean: “All right, three teams looking for a general manager.”
Friedman: “Okay, so first of all, we’ll start in Toronto, where there was a lot going on this week about what they might be doing, or they might not be doing. I think they’re going to have a bunch of interviews next week. I do not expect this to be a short process. The Maple Leafs are determined to talk to as many people as possible and gather as many opinions as they can about what they should do.
What I can tell you right now is that number one, I think they’re starting the search with the goal of one person. Now, it doesn’t mean they can’t morph into more, but they are starting the search with the goal of one person. And I also believe we talked about one specific member of Florida’s front office, I don’t think that’s the only request that’s going to be made of the Panthers. I think the Maple Leafs could ask for multiple permissions to talk to people within Florida.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, and the Nashville Predators
Okay, let’s go on to Nashville. We’ve talked about how Nashville prefers somebody who has recently been a GM or an AGM. That’s kind of the way they started their search. They had some in-person visits, and this will surprise nobody that you can add Tom Fitzgerald, the former Devils general manager, who was the first captain of the Predators, to that list. He’s either been there, to Nashville, for an in-person interview, or he’s going in the near future. Couldn’t pin it down exactly, but he is a candidate for that job, and will be interviewed face-to-face, if he has not been already.
And finally, New Jersey, I expect theirs to begin in earnest this week with some interviews. And I think also right now in New Jersey, I don’t think there’s clarity yet, are they going to be hiring one person, or are they going to be hiring two?”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs, like the New Jersey Devils, have been linked to Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta. Both teams have gotten permission to speak with him. There has been speculation that they will ask about assistant general manager Brett Peterson and special advisor to general manager, Roberto Luongo.
As far as the Nashville Predators go, it appears they have interviewed Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner. They have also interviewed Peterson and others. With Fitzgerald and the Devils parting ways on Monday, there was a chance that Nashville would be calling to speak with him, as that is who they may have wanted all along.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, and Chris Pronger
The prevailing speculation is that once he was let go by the Devils, he would be the next hire for the Predators. Does that make good business sense? Are sentimental choices the best idea for an organization to succeed?
As far as the Devils go, they will conduct an in-depth search. Langebrunner, Mehta, Tyler Dellow, Ryan Martin, Ross Mahoney, and others could be interviewed. There is still a belief that Brendan Shanahan will be the President of Hockey Operations, and they will hire a general manager.
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