NHL General Manager Searches Continue in Three Markets

The hunt for new General Managers is actively underway for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils. Elliotte Friedman provided an update on these significant searches during Saturday Headlines with Ron MacLean.

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs are reportedly preparing for a series of interviews next week. This process is not expected to be rushed, as the team is committed to speaking with a wide range of individuals to gather diverse perspectives on the team's future direction. While the initial goal is to find a single General Manager, the possibility of expanding the search or considering multiple hires from within the Florida Panthers' front office remains open.

For the Nashville Predators, the search is focusing on candidates with recent experience as a General Manager or Assistant General Manager. Tom Fitzgerald, the former Devils GM and the inaugural captain of the Predators, is confirmed to be a strong contender. He has either undergone or is scheduled for an in-person interview with the team.

The New Jersey Devils are also set to begin their interview process in earnest this week. The team's structure going forward remains unclear, with questions about whether they will hire one person or two for their management team.

Adding to the speculation, both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils have reportedly received permission to speak with Florida Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta. There is also buzz that the Maple Leafs might inquire about Panthers assistant general manager Brett Peterson and special advisor to the GM, Roberto Luongo.

Regarding the Predators, it's understood they have interviewed Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jamie Langenbrunner, as well as Brett Peterson and other candidates. With Tom Fitzgerald's departure from the Devils, there was considerable anticipation that Nashville would reach out to him, as he was a favored option.

The prevailing sentiment is that Fitzgerald would be the next hire for the Predators once his separation from the Devils was finalized. The question remains whether such a decision, potentially driven by sentiment, would be the most beneficial for the organization's long-term success.

The Devils are expected to conduct a thorough search, with potential candidates including Langenbrunner, Mehta, Tyler Dellow, Ryan Martin, Ross Mahoney, and others. It is still anticipated that Brendan Shanahan will assume the role of President of Hockey Operations, with a separate General Manager to be appointed.