Insider pinpoints the best candidate for the Leafs' GM job; the question is whether or not he's even available

With the Toronto Maple Leafs making the surprising decision to can former GM Kyle Dubas on Friday, the Buds are in the unenviable position of having to scramble to find a GM so that they can get to work on the laundry list of items on the Leafs' list head of the draft and free agency this summer.

Any GM who is currently under contract may face the stipulation of not being eligible to take part in any draft-related activities with the Leafs, given their work on the draft with their current organizations. However, that's the least of anyone's worries in Toronto with the contract status of Auston Matthews and his eligibility to sign an extension this summer. That will be priority number one for whomever lands the GM gig with the Leafs.

NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman had a lot to say about the Leafs on his most recent 32 Thoughts Podcast, but perhaps the most interesting thing he discussed was one potential candidate for the Leafs' GM job. Even though he's currently under contract, Friedman pondered the idea that Blues GM Doug Armstrong may like the idea of making the jump over to Toronto. Here's what Friedge had to say on the subject.


Armstrong is very arguably the best candidate for the job, but the question here remains whether or not he's even available. In order for him to pursue the gig in Toronto, he and the Blues would have to agree to part ways and then I'm sure there would either be some sort of a stipulation limiting his ability to help the Leafs with certain aspects of their summer activities, but also, the Blues may look for some sort of compensation from the Leafs in exchange for allowing Armstrong to take on the gig.

It's still way too early to tell if the two sides will even discuss the matter, but according to Friedman, Armstrong himself might express an interest in the job in Toronto, so who knows what will happen here?