Former Maple Leafs player floated as GM candidate after Brad Treliving firing

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving from his position as general manager on Monday. That same day, the team earned a 5-4 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Jason Spezza, a former Maple Leafs player and current assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been named by two experts as a realistic candidate to take over the role Treliving vacated in Toronto.

Experts name Jason Spezza as potential Maple Leafs' GM candidate 

The Athletic's Joshua Kloke named him as a strong alternative, arguing that Spezza understands players and, likely, what the Canadian franchise has been lacking.

"Remember Jason Spezza's final three seasons in the NHL as a Leaf? The veteran showed a lot of what the Leafs appeared to lack this season. Namely, pure passion for the organization," Kloke wrote. "...Spezza understands players and likely understands what's been missing in Toronto."

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, for his part, pointed out that Spezza is a potential candidate for the GM position if he feels ready to take it on.

"If Jason Spezza feels he's ready, I can't imagine why he wouldn't get an interview," Friedman said.

Spezza spent his final three seasons as a player in Toronto. After retiring, he took on the role of special assistant to Kyle Dubas, who was then general manager of the Leafs. For the past three seasons, he has served as assistant general manager of the Penguins.