Toronto Maple Leafs Rumors: St. Louis Blues GM may be potential candidate as Kyle Dubas' replacement

Toronto Maple Leafs' vacant general manager position has a potential candidates per Elliotte Friedman on The 32 Thoughts Podcast. Friedman pondered the idea of St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong making the jump to Toronto, despite currently being under contract with the Blues.

Friedman said:

"The one guy I kind of wondered if it would ever work for him here is Doug Armstrong. Now I know Doug Armstrong signed a contract extension in St. Louis, I know he's really set there, he could probably be there for a really long time"

Armstrong's track record and accomplishments make him a strong candidate for the Toronto Maple Leafs' GM role. However, the key question remains whether he is available to pursue the opportunity in Toronto

For Armstrong to join the Toronto Maple Leafs, an agreement between him and the Blues would need to be reached, potentially involving stipulations limiting his involvement in certain aspects of the Leafs' summer activities. Additionally, the Blues may seek compensation from the Leafs for allowing Armstrong to take on the new position.

While it is still early to predict the outcome, Friedman suggested that Armstrong himself might express interest in the job in Toronto. Being an Ontario native, Armstrong would likely embrace the challenge and possess the desired profile that the Leafs are seeking. The speculation arises as to whether he would be the top candidate pursued by the Toronto Maple Leafs if Kyle Dubas were to depart.

Armstrong's potential move to the Maple Leafs would be an intriguing development in the NHL landscape. Given his successful tenure in St. Louis, his reputation and skill set make him an attractive choice to lead the Leafs forward.

A potential explanation for Kyle Dubas departing from the Toronto Maple Leafs

After the Toronto Maple Leafs' disappointing exit from the playoffs, fans expressed their frustrations on social media, primarily blaming general manager Kyle Dubas for the team's early elimination. The backlash prompted calls for Dubas to be fired from his position. However, in a recent interview, Dubas discussed his future as the Leafs' GM and highlighted the significant influence his family's well-being has on his decision-making process.

He mentioned that he would be having conversations with team owner Brendan Shanahan and others, as well as consulting his wife Shannon and his family, to determine the best course of action. Dubas acknowledged that the past year had been challenging for his family, and their happiness and welfare held great importance to him.