Evan’s NHL Daily: Maple Leafs Eye Targets For GM Job, Sakic’s Best Moves

The NHL world revolves around the Toronto Maple Leafs, and after firing Kyle Dubas a week ago, some of the names of people they want to interview for the GM role have come out. A few of the names would not inspire confidence in me, if I was a Leafs fan. Dubas, meanwhile, is thinking about that Pittsburgh job.

With things slow in Colorado, we took a look back at Joe Sakic’s best moves at general manager.

All that and more in this Saturday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Joe Sakic really hit his stride around 2017 as general manager of the Colorado Avalanche. After taking a look back, what were his best moves as GM? Some of them were fairly obvious, but his last official trade as GM may quickly be rising up the list.

Erik Johnson or Jack Johnson? The Avalanche should not bring back both, but if they were going to bring back one, which one should it be? Or is the answer really…neither?

On Saturday, look for some thoughts on a dark horse candidate that I’ve heard Avalanche fans need to keep an eye on to make the team next year, a tidbit on Nikolai Kovalenko, and some thoughts on their past drafting record.

Around the NHL

Toronto needs a new general manager, and an early list of who they plan to interview has come out. The list isn’t exactly inspiring.

As the process to find next #LeafsForever GM gets moving, I'd expect Toronto to interview at a minimum Jason Botterill, Marc Bergevin, Brad Treliving and Peter Chiarelli – if they haven't already.

Four names to chew on in TO.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 26, 2023

Brendan Shanahan made it seem like he wants someone with experience, so I guess the list makes sense in that way. Treliving is likely the favorite, but Bergevin and Chiarelli just continue to get interviews and I’m not sure why. Chiarelli, in particular, is baffling. That cup win in Boston is still helping him, but his Edmonton tenure was ugly.

The whole hockey world will be waiting to see who they pick.

NHL Playoffs

Long before the playoffs started, the Florida Panthers were underdogs.

Is Adin Hill making a case to stick long-term in Vegas?

National Hockey Now

PGHN: The Penguins are apparently giving Kyle Dubas the weekend to think it over for their GM job.

SJHN: Could the Sharks go big-game hunting this summer?

Calgary: Who are the head coach options for the Flames?

Chicago: Beyond the numbers, what does Connor Bedard bring to Chicago?

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