The Maple Leafs just made their first rebuild hire and it is not a GM
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired PBI Sports to look for their new President/GM and are using the same group that helped rebuild other NHL teams in the past.
Keith Pelley is sparing no expenses to try and hire the best possible people for the Toronto Maple Leafs President, GM and soon to be coaching vacancies.
PBI Sports placed the executives in Vancouver, Anaheim, and Philadelphia in order to build contenders
According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet, Pelley and MLSE are hiring agency firm PBI Sports to take a look at candidates:
Hearing Maple Leafs using Neil Glasberg and PBI Sports to search for Leafs new head of hockey operations.
PBI was used to find execs in Vancouver, Dallas and Philadelphia.
PBI was used to find execs in Vancouver, Dallas and Philadelphia.
According to the PBI Sports website, the organization is comprised of over 70 pro coaches and GMs spread throughout the entirety of professional sports and their goal is to 'conduct contract negotiations with hiring teams, and provide extensive guidance on employment contracts to our clients.'
That sounds exactly like what Pelley is looking for, as it's clear they may be some tough talks in order to bring the perfect person aboard.
The firm represents several familiar names and helped bring in Jim Rutherford to Vancouver, Stan Bowman to Edmonton, David Pelletier to Dallas, and Todd Reirden for Philadelphia.
They were also responsible for bringing in Rick Bowness to Columbus this season, as well as former Maple Leafs assistant Lane Lambert; who became head coach of the Seattle Kraken this season.
This move tells you Keith Pelley is not afraid to go outside the box for help
As much as Pelley says he's hands off, he really can't be right now so he's using all of the resources he can to make sure that the team brings in the best people whether it be in the front office, coaching staff or both.
This makes his job a lot easier too, as he can trust PBI to analyze their vision and find the best clientele to put that into action. There's a reason this firm is trusted all over the world — they find winners.
Using PBI could be a way that the team finds names like John Chayka or Sunny Mehta for their President/GM position, or be the way that Manny Malhotra comes over from Vancouver. They have that Rutherford connection, and perhaps he's finally looking to wrangle the big fish in the NHL.
This is how you find those data-centric people that Pelley wants. It's not by going after people you know, but trusting someone to bring in the people you should know.
It feels like for the first time in a long time, the Maple Leafs are looking at all of their options when it comes to fixing their team. If it's going to take an agency to find that person, so be it.
It's been a decade of failure, and nearly 60 years since real success. At this point, you may as well try anything.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Why the Maple Leafs were right to stay away from Peter DeBoer
Why the Maple Leafs were right to stay away from Peter DeBoer