And then there were three

Maple Leafs could hire new GM by end of next week

By Terry Koshan, SLAM! Sports

There's a strong chance the Maple Leafs' general manager position will be filled by the end of next week.

Unless the situation changes drastically before then, one of three men -- former New York Rangers GM Neil Smith, St. Louis Blues director of hockey operations John Ferguson Jr. and Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson -- probably will be the new GM.

Vancouver Canucks vice president of player personnel Steve Tambellini had a second interview Thursday, but he is not thought to have as good a chance as the others. Smith and Ferguson also have had second interviews, but whether Nicholson has as well is not known. Nicholson has had at least one interview. Nicholson and/or Tambellini, of the four, would get coach/outgoing GM Pat Quinn's full support for the job.

At the worst, the Leafs want a new man in office no later than Sept. 1.

Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Kevin Gilmore, who was a darkhorse candidate, is out of the running.

There has been a theory that the Leafs will hire not only a GM but an assistant as well, or someone to fill another role in the hockey department. Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., dismissed that notion.

"We are looking for just a general manager," Peddie said. "He will set the strategy and the tone. We are just hiring one person."

As for the drawn-out process? The Leafs announced back on June 27 their plans to hire Quinn's successor.

"I like to think this is a 10-year hire," Peddie said. "A couple of more weeks is nothing."

Quinn, by the way, might not be around to hand over the keys to the office. He was planning to return to his home in Vancouver Thursday.

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