TSN's Darren Dreger reports that it was suggested to him on Thursday that Toronto could hire just a general manager.
While a search for the next "head of hockey operations" with the Toronto Maple Leafs has begun, MLSE reportedly won't have a search firm in place until next weekend at the latest.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Thursday's edition of Insider Trading, once the search firm is formally established, MLSE and Keith Pelley will hand over a list of potential candidates for the firm to vet.
"It doesn’t mean that Keith Pelley, the head of MLSE, is sitting on his hands until then," LeBrun added.
"My understanding is that he continues to have dialogue with a number of people around the league so that when that search firm is hired, he will probably hand over a list of eight to ten names to get the process going.
"What is this interview process labelled? Is it for a GM? Is it for a president of hockey operations? I was told on Thursday that it is for a head of hockey operations, and from there we’ll see where it goes."
TSN's Darren Dreger then chimed in, saying, "And it was suggested to me on Thursday that it’s more likely that Keith Pelley and the Toronto Maple Leafs just hire a general manager, and that seems like a bit of a miss when you look at the mammoth task ahead for whomever that head of hockey operations is."
In his press conference after dismissing former GM Brad Treliving, Pelley noted that whoever the next hire is needs to be "data-centric."
"They have to really understand the importance of data and where data is moving," Pelley continued.
Dreger also noted on Insider Trading that, "There is a strong consideration being given to copying the Carolina Hurricanes' model.
"We all heard Keith Pelley speak glowingly of the work of Eric Tulsky, who’s general manager of the Hurricanes, and many believe that Keith Pelley — who’s a believer in evidence-based decisions — feels strongly that the next GM of the Maple Leafs has to be entrenched in that analytics world."
One name that many have discussed as being perfect for a "data-centric" front office job with the Maple Leafs is current Florida Panthers assistant GM and head of analytics, Sunny Mehta.
With a unique background as a former professional poker player and former data scientist, plus two Stanley Cups with the Panthers, Mehta's experience and unique perspective could intrigue Pelley and MLSE.
There's also Mike Gillis, whose name has surfaced in recent days. He, too, has a distinct background, featuring back-to-back Presidents' Trophies and a Stanley Cup Final appearance with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
It'll be an interesting period for MLSE, but as Pelley noted during his Tuesday press conference, this hire will be "the most important decision that I will likely make in my tenure at MLSE."
He's got to make it right.