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Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM Search Firm Choice Drawing Concern

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Apr 7, 2026 10:46 AM ET

According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, “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, Anaheim, and Philadelphia.” This is an intriguing choice, Frank Seravalli hints, who penned a 2023 piece about a conflict-of-interest issue with the firm.

The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed they would hire a search firm to assist in landing either a President of Hockey Ops or a new general manager. They’d hoped to have selected said firm by the end of the week so they could interview and select someone to run the hockey department, with Brad Treliving now gone. However, the selection of PBI Sports has already stirred up conversations.

The reason this is somewhat controversial is that there is a potential conflict of interest issue.

Why Is This A Conflict?

In 2023, the conflict of interest centered on Neil Glasberg serving as a consultant in the Philadelphia Flyers front-office search while also acting as an agent for NHL coaches and executives—some of whom were candidates. Critics argued he had “skin in the game” because he could indirectly influence hiring decisions that benefited his own clients.

While the Flyers and the NHL said Glasberg is only offering insight and not making decisions, coaches around the league question whether anyone can fairly advise a hiring process while simultaneously representing potential hires, calling it a clear conflict of interest.

If there was a conflict, then the same principle would apply today. Seravalli added, “Further to last tweet about conflict of interest, this is the LLC shell game Glasberg plays to make everything appear above board. Reminder: We’ve already had one team terminate a search firm this spring for conflict of interest.”

Beyond that, Toronto Maple Leafs fans are already expressing concern, especially since two of the teams mentioned by Fox—the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers—haven’t exactly found sustained success since making their respective hiring decisions.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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