The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently facing a significant decision: who will be their next general manager? With a series of franchise-altering moves to be made in a short period, the Leafs have made experience a prerequisite for any candidates in consideration for the job. However, is experience truly the most significant factor in making the right decisions for a team?
Five years ago, the Leafs hired a then-32-year-old Kyle Dubas out of the assistant GM’s chair to lead the team. Dubas officially took over on May 11, 2018, replacing Lou Lamoriello, who had held the position for an extended period. While Dubas had been with the organization for over three years, had familiarized himself with the team, and had ample time to make significant decisions in his role, the Leafs’ current situation is vastly different.
With the Leafs opting not to extend Dubas’ contract, they may need to make significant changes, with little time to do so. Dubas left Tavares to play for his hometown team, signed William Nylander to his second NHL contract, and decided whether to bring back franchise pillars James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. The next Leafs GM will be required to make these kinds of decisions in an even more compressed time frame.
The list of priorities for the upcoming Leafs GM is extensive, and some decisions need to be acted upon before July 1, when players can take control of the process. Included in this list is making a decision on the head coach, retaining Sheldon Keefe or hiring a replacement. The new GM must also convince Auston Matthews to sign an extension, determine if a star trade involving William Nylander or Mitch Marner would make any sense, and fill numerous holes in the roster, including adding a No. 2 centre and a top-four defenceman.
The role requires signing Ilya Samsonov, leading the Leafs at the draft with an unfamiliar staff, addressing the captaincy, and potentially hiring front-office staff. The person making all these decisions will be unfamiliar with how the Leafs operate with running things past Shanahan and the famed board.
It is understandable why the Leafs organization prefers a candidate who has run an NHL team before. The short timeline and significant decision-making point to the need for experience, but that does not automatically guarantee success. Many candidates who possess experience may not be the best fit for the job. Furthermore, several first-time GMs, such as Craig Conroy of the Flames and Panthers boss Bill Zito, have been successful in leading their teams to the playoffs.
Ideally, the Leafs would hire someone who is ready to lead the franchise for the next five years, not just the next five weeks. Nonetheless, the Leafs’ current situation calls for someone who can make the right decisions swiftly and effectively. The Leafs must find a balance between experience and creativity, ensuring they find the best person for the job.
