73
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 107-day search for a general manager has become a campaign of attrition.
A few weeks after the Anaheim Ducks refused to give the Leafs permission to speak to Brian Burke about Toronto's vacant GM portfolio, it has come to light that the Leafs also have been rebuffed by the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks.
Red Wings senior vice-president Jim Devellano and Sharks president Greg Jamison revealed yesterday their respective NHL clubs will not grant the Maple Leafs permission to speak to Detroit GM Ken Holland or assistant GM Jim Nill or San Jose GM Doug Wilson.
Several weeks ago, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum visited Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch to inquire about the possibility of hiring Holland and/or Nill. Tanenbaum left empty-handed.
Related Articles
“Larry was told then, and I've run into [MLSE president] Richard Peddie a couple of times since and reiterated, that they are under contract for three more years,” Devellano said. “It doesn't matter how many times I tell members of the Toronto media that Ken Holland and Jim Nill are not coming to Toronto, they still are mentioned as possibilities or candidates. I'm telling you that is not the case.”
Jamison issued a statement with a similar message.
“Doug is under a long-term contract, isn't going anywhere, and I believe he is the best general manager in the league,” Jamison said. “He is very happy to be here, we are fortunate to have him and we will continue toward our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”
Wilson added, “I'm very proud to be part of this organization.”
While the Sharks, Red Wings and Ducks' decisions have hurt the Leafs' chances of landing an experienced and respected general manager, it is clear that after more than three months the time is nearing when they will finally start interviewing prospective candidates.
Toronto-based lawyer Gordon Kirke – he and Peddie make up the two-person search committee – has maintained the interview process would not begin until after the Stanley Cup playoffs have ended.
Kirke, Peddie and Maple Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher sat down to compile a list of candidates months ago.
With the postseason down to its final four weeks, the Leafs have been busy contacting NHL clubs for permission to talk to people under contract.
Recently fired Vancouver Canucks GM David Nonis said yesterday that he hasn't heard directly from the Leafs, but multiple sources believe a call has been placed to Canucks ownership asking for permission to meet with Nonis.
“The process is ongoing,” was all Fletcher would say yesterday. Peddie and Kirke could not be reached for comment.
It was just another day in the bizarre world of the Leafs, a struggling franchise that has gone without a Stanley Cup championship since 1967.
Fired head coach Paul Maurice held his farewell news conference. Then there was word that yesterday may have been the wedding day for Leafs stalwart Mats Sundin (although this was “news to me,” his agent J.P. Barry said).
Finally, the club found out that sought-after Swedish free agent Fabian Brunnstrom had decided to sign with the Dallas Stars. The Leafs, of course, could have signed the 23-year-old forward last year, but decided not to act, despite a recommendation by the club's Sweden scout, Thommie Bergman.
For his part, Maurice blamed himself for the firing of Toronto general manager John Ferguson Jr. on Jan. 22.
“When I look back at the two years, I have one [regret], and that was John being fired,” Maurice said. “I look at that as under my watch.
“I watched in complete admiration of how he handled himself in a very, very difficult situation. He came in every day with the same chin up and support for our group and it was really something to watch.”
