Maple Leafs GM Decision Timeline Emerges After Exit Interviews

“Sources say the Maple Leafs are advancing to the ‘finalist’ stage of their interview process this week. No guarantee on timeline but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a new GM in place by the end of the week,” Seravalli said.

The update points to a faster resolution than expected, as no real progress in the GM hiring process had been reported before.

Although multiple candidates have been linked to the role, including Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser among other external options, no decision has been finalized entering this week.

At the time of Treliving’s dismissal, CEO Keith Pelley emphasized the importance of the new hire.

“This will be the most important decision I make during my tenure at MLSE,” Pelley said. “The number one goal right now is for us to move as quick as we possibly can into an exhaustive search to put somebody in place to run hockey operations who will be able to make those decisions,” Pelley said.

The next general manager will take over a roster led by captain Auston Matthews, who addressed the uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction during his exit interview at the end of last week.

“I can’t predict the future,” Matthews said. “They have to hire new leadership at management and stuff like that. So, I don’t really know.”