NHL Front Office: General Manager & President of Hockey Operations Candidates, Including Maple Leafs Targets

Individuals Considering Front Office Roles

Speculation surrounds several individuals potentially seeking President of Hockey Operations (PoHO) roles. This list includes Brendan Shanahan, Peter Chiarelli, Marc Bergevin, and Brian Lawton. Chris Pronger and Ryan Getzlaf are also mentioned, though they possess less extensive executive experience.

The Nashville Predators are reportedly prioritizing candidates with more significant experience than Pronger and Getzlaf offer for their PoHO search.

Doug Armstrong is transitioning from his General Manager role with the St. Louis Blues but will continue as President of Hockey Operations until the 2028-29 season. It is suggested he would only depart the Blues for an opportunity encompassing both GM and President of Hockey Operations titles elsewhere. Regarding Armstrong's potential interest in the Toronto Maple Leafs, it's rumored there's a strong understanding within the St. Louis organization that they would not impede him should a desirable opportunity arise elsewhere.

Ron Francis currently serves solely as President of Hockey Operations for the Seattle Kraken. Should he desire to hold both GM and President titles, he would likely need to seek such a position with another franchise.

Should the Detroit Red Wings miss the playoffs, it would mark their seventh consecutive season without a postseason berth under General Manager Steve Yzerman.

Potential Front Office Candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs

As the Toronto Maple Leafs search for a new General Manager, several names are emerging. MLSE CEO Keith Pelley has stated that the ideal candidate must be "data-driven."

Among the potential GM candidates are Doug Armstrong (currently Blues GM, slated to be President of Hockey Operations), Chris Pronger (an analyst), and Jamie Langenbrunner (Assistant General Manager for the Boston Bruins).

While not specifically a GM candidate, Judd Bracket, the Minnesota Wild's Director of Amateur Scouting, might be of interest to the Maple Leafs for a different front office role. He could also attract attention from the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks.

Echoing Keith Pelley's preference for a "data-centric" General Manager, potential Assistant GM candidates with a strong analytical background include Tim Barnes (Washington Capitals), Tyler Dellow (Carolina Hurricanes), Alexandra Mandrycky (Seattle Kraken), Sunny Mehta (Florida Panthers), and Darryl Metcalf (Toronto Maple Leafs).

John Chayka is also being considered as a potential candidate.