Maple Leafs' Notes: Coaching Search Heating Up, Cliff Fletcher to Remain GM?

Fletcher Contacting Coaching Candidates

It has been reported, first by TSN and now confirmed by other sources, that Toronto Maple Leafs’ interim General Manager Cliff Fletcher has begun contacting potential coaching candidates who will be behind the Maple Leafs’ bench this upcoming season.

Several of the sources have said the same thing: the Leafs seem adamant to fill the position well before the June 20 NHL Entry Draft.

Now, read into it what you will, but in my eyes this can only mean one of two things.

Scenario one states that, in beginning the coaching interview process, they are also very close to naming their new GM.  The GM may have been unofficially on the inside already, helping compile a short list of people he would like to interview for the job (which is okay, as long as the GM isn't under a contract.)

Scenario two states that the Maple Leafs are not close to naming a new GM, and that by starting to interview coaches for this season, it is almost an admission that interim GM Cliff Fletcher will stay on board and be the team's GM this upcoming season.

Of course, bringing in Ron Wilson, who at this point appears to be at the top of the list, will only further fuel the speculation of Brian Burke to Toronto.  Wilson and Burke are good friends, and the families of the two are also close.

There were also rumors running rampant yesterday that the wife of Brian Burke, Jennifer Mather, had quit her job at CBC, and that her job has been listed on the CBC's internal website.

When contacted, Brian Burke would not confirm this.  He did say that he had heard Toronto was interested in Ron Wilson and reiterated that he had nothing and could have nothing to do with the hiring of his friend in Toronto.

If you put two and two together, it would appear something may be going on.

After being stagnant mostly since April, things are really beginning to heat up in Leafs’ Nation, and it is fully possible now that the GM search, as well as the coaching search could be finished. 

The focus would then shift, of course, to the draft, buy out period, and free agency.