The final two Leafs GM candidates prove a hire is happening this week
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly narrowed down their GM search to Boston's Evan Gold and New York's Ryan Martin; with a third potential wild-card too.
It was reported earlier on Monday that the Toronto Maple Leafs might be getting a lot closer to their decision on who they want to lead as GM, and there have been some pretty heavy hitters being discussed.
John Chayka, Ryan Hardy, Brandon Pridham, and Mike Gillis have all been named as potential candidates however there have been some off the board picks that have been tossed around such as Hayley Wickenheiser and Gregory Campbell.
Though two names that have popped up recently also seemingly became the two frontrunners in the blink of an eye — at least when it comes to the GM role.
Maple Leafs narrowing the field in their search for a new front office leader
Toronto is looking to finalize their interviews and start the final decision-making process, and two names being thrown about as finalists are Boston Bruins assistant GM Evan Gold as well as New York Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin:
Sources say two of the 'finalists' advancing in the Maple Leafs GM search this week are #NHLBruins assistant GM Evan Gold and #NYR assistant GM Ryan Martin.
There is likely a third (or more?) candidate to meet with the team for a second in-person interview this week.
There is likely a third (or more?) candidate to meet with the team for a second in-person interview this week.
There's a third candidate who could be brought in which also brings a lot of intrigue, as it could be the wild-card pick like Chris Pronger or Mats Sundin that wins out in the end and helps set the Maple Leafs on the right course.
There's no word either if Toronto is going to reinstate the Team President role or if the team is going to work through just a new GM however both men are analytical darlings so at least Keith Pelley is keeping his word in that regard.
Who is the better fit — Martin or Gold?
Gold is a guy who has been with the Bruins for over a decade and is more than familiar with the Maple Leafs. He no doubt was a brainchild of the Fraser Minten trade, and it's ironic that Toronto could steal Boston's AGM while the Bruins hold their draft pick; call it an even trade then.
He has been Boston's assistant GM since 2019-2020 and here's a list of names drafted by the team since then:
- Mason Lohrei
- Matthew Poitras
- James Hagens
- Matthew Poitras
- James Hagens
Meanwhile the team has traded for the following names as well:
- Fraser Minten
- Marcus Johansson
- Nick Ritchie
- Taylor Hall
- Pavel Zacha
- Marcus Johansson
- Nick Ritchie
- Taylor Hall
- Pavel Zacha
These are just some of the faces who Gold's been a part of when it comes to the Bruins pipeline and with how well names like Zacha and Minten have been; not to mention Hagens and the rookie group — he did pretty darn well.
Martin on the other hand has also had his hands all over both the Red Wings and Rangers, and while New York struggled in recent years; Martin still was part of bringing in big names.
Mika Zibanejad, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Adam Sykora, EJ Emery, Gabriel Perrault are all names that were brought in or drafted for the Rangers and Red Wings with Martin in charge, and he's been a long-time AHL GM just waiting for a chance.
Both men are going to be first-time GMs if the Maple Leafs do decide to go with one of them, so that's also heavy motivation to make moves — come in swinging and show some real fire.
There's no doubt that Martin would be able to help turn things around but there's something poetic and a little bit petty to steal a Boston executive after having so much taken elsewhere.
For Toronto, they're hoping Gold ends up being more like King Midas and his touch can turn the team's fortunes around for good.
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