The Toronto Maple Leafs don't need a general manager?

Ryan Hardy, Assistant General Manager, Minor League Operations

Darryl Metcalf, Assistant General Manager, Hockey Research and Development

Dave Morrison, Director, Player Personnel

Wes Clark, Director, Amateur Scouting / Assistant Director, Player Personnel

Reid Mitchell, Director, Hockey and Scouting Operations

Leanne Hederson, Director, Hockey Operations

Will Sibley, Director, Development Operations and Analysis

Cliff Fletcher, Senior Advisor

Brad Lynn, Director, Team Operations

Mike Dixon, Director, Minor League Operations

Adam Jancelewicz, Manager, Hockey Operations Video

Jacob Burton, Lojain Farah, Daniel Kaplan, Ryan Minicola, Video Analysts

Stephen Hare, Senior Director, Finance

Alison Rockwell, Senior Director, Business Relations

Mark Fraser, Manager, Culture & Inclusion

Steve Walker, Director, Team Security

Lia Pellegrino, Executive Assistant to the President

Diana Raposo, Executive Assistant, Hockey Operations

Adam Bears, Technology Lead

Jaren Burke, Management Development Associate

That is just the 26 people listed under “Management.” When we include coaching staff, scouting staff, player development staff, hockey research and development staff, medical staff, equipment staff, Maple Leafs media relations and community representatives, that is roughly another 76 staff members.

Maple Leafs Not Old School in Their Organizational Structure

The Maple Leafs are not an “Old School” operation with a dozen cigar-smoking suits sitting around a table spitballing. This is a well-organized corporation. 

Yes, the GM many worked for and loved has been let go. Some of those people might even follow Dubas to his next gig. But most will likely realize that they are working for one of the most prestigious organizations in the sport and stay put.

Without Dubas, the Maple Leafs still have some pretty solid personnel in the positions of assistant GM in Pridham, Wickenheiser, Hardy and Metcalf. They have a director of player personnel, Morrison, who has been involved with scouting since his playing days ended in 1999. They have Clark as director of scouting, as well as numerous other experienced management staff in hockey development, and Fletcher is no slouch as a hockey mind.

Then there’s Shanahan.

This Is Shanahan’s Show Anyway

Shanahan is the boss. He is in charge of the team. 

Whoever is named GM will not have the autonomy to run things however they want. They will have to answer to Shanahan on many, if not all, major decisions.

With that in mind, why not just let the people who are already in place keep doing their jobs? If he wishes, Shanahan could add GM to his title, simply promote Pridham — who appears to be acting GM — or hire another assistant GM to take care of the day-to-day operations. There also might be someone in-house who could be promoted to the position of GM. How groundbreaking would it be if Wickenheiser earned that title?

Staying In-House Offers Little Further Disruption

One advantage to staying in-house is there would be little or no further disruption of operations. There would be no “new boss” stepping into an unfamiliar position, with the inevitable juggling of responsibilities and personnel. It would be business as usual.  

It might just be what the Maple Leafs organization needs to help get over the shock of Dubas’ dismissal. Instead of a major upheaval, it would just be one person moving on.  

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs’ fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]