Another Promising Candidate Proposed for the Leafs' GM Position

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Evan Doerfler
May 25, 2023 (10:00 PM)

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A new candidate has possibly emerged in the Leafs GM search.

With the Leafs headlining the hockey world almost a week to the day, the search has begun for the highly anticipated general manager position of the original six franchise.

The conversation has quickly revolved around what sources lead us to believe is the top candidate in Brad Treliving, but the search for a qualified candidate certainly shouldn't stop there.

Though there has not been another confirmed candidate who has met with Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, this morning's version of TSN's radio show First Up, suggested that there may be another candidate who arises soon.

Former Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo suggested that current Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill may be on the Leafs radar as a top candidate.

Colaiacovo stated: "A name that I heard pop up yesterday is Jim Nill...he's got one year left on his current deal and has a really close relationship with Shanahan from their time in Detroit. We'll see how this plays out if he's a guy they want to interview when Dallas gets eliminated."

Why he fits the mould for the Leafs

Shanahan outlined in his closing press conference last week he was looking for a candidate who had experience, especially one with a team full of superstars.

If you can recall, Nill famously drafted Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger all in the same draft year (2017), and they have all turned into fundamental pieces that have led to their recent Western Conference Finals birth.

Nill fits the Dubas mould perfectly; he's sensational at drafting, harsh on his star players when they do not perform, and he has made countless winning moves at the trade deadline to push his team over the edge come May.

On top of that, the Stars are a star-studded team (pun intended). Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Joe Pavelski, on top of the young talent that has come from the NHL Entry Draft, Nill has contributed to a winning team in various ways.

If Nill becomes available, he should be amongst the top candidates on the Maple Leafs radar.

Credit Maple Leafs Daily:
Another interesting name proposed for Leafs GM job