David Nonis withdrew himself from consideration for the job of general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and committed himself to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the next two seasons.
However, Leafs president and GM Brian Burke said in an e-mail message, Nonis is not about to sign a contract extension. But the Leafs' senior vice-president of hockey operations has removed the escape clause from his contract for this summer and the summer of 2011.
The move may mean that Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has worked out an agreement with Steve Yzerman to become the team's GM. Yzerman, currently a Detroit Red Wings vice-president, is considered one of the leading candidates for the job. But there is talk going around the NHL that former Lightning GM Jay Feaster, who left after Oren Koules and Len Barrie bought the team in 2008, is in the running. Other names mentioned are TSN broadcaster Pierre McGuire and former Minnesota Wild GM Doug Risebrough.