Strategy may hurt Leafs

The Leafs' plans to assemble a super management team could have an undesired impact on the current interview process the club is conducting for its new president and general manager.

It appears for now the club is interviewing candidates for support staff positions to the new GM, with hopes that names like Dave Nonis and Doug Armstrong will form key pieces of that team.
The club's interview committee - made up of MLSE president Richard Peddie and Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke - remains silent about the candidates and the details of what posts they are being interviewed for.

Nonis and Armstrong, though, have other solid GM options in St. Louis and Atlanta, and could find those situations more attractive if they are being interviewed for a supporting role in Toronto.

"We're building a deeper, more experienced Leafs management team for the ages," said Peddie.

"All of these people (on the management team) will be proven. If some are chosen before (the president and GM) is hired, they'll be people that the new person will find as experienced, proven people ... there could be pieces in place (before the new GM arrives)."

According to sources, the Blues are definitely battling the Leafs to land Armstrong.

Radio stations in St. Louis reported throughout yesterday that the Blues have a deal on the table for Armstrong to become the club's GM-in-waiting. Armstrong - or whomever the Blues hire - would take over full GM duties when incumbent Larry Pleau retires or leaves the club for personal reasons. Pleau's wife is battling cancer.

Armstrong may not even be interviewed in Toronto for the full-time GM job, a post that is continually tied to Anaheim's Brian Burke despite the fact Burke has a year remaining on his contract.

Armstrong, though, is high on the Leafs' plans for the management team. So far, the targeted names for the team include Armstrong, Nonis, Joe Nieuwendyk and current assistant GM Jeff Jackson.

Nonis concluded his interview process and has yet to give an answer to the interview committee (although that answer is expected as early as today or tomorrow).

Fletcher will stay with the team as a consultant when a new GM is hired, but Peddie also said the club is comfortable with building that team with Fletcher as the GM.

The long-standing belief is that Burke is the Leafs' target for president and GM, but they will go through proper channels to land him, even if it takes a year, or a month. Until then, Fletcher remains in control, and will guide the club through the draft, trades, buyouts, free agency and the hiring of a new coach if need be.