5 Candidates for Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager

With the firing of general manager Dave Nonis following the end of the regular season, it's clear the Toronto Maple Leafs are making a break with an unsuccessful past.

It has become clear that President Brendan Shanahan will play a large part in the club's future direction.

While the GM position was one of greater power in past eras, Shanahan does need to add another good mind to his management team. All of the top NHL teams rely on several off-ice decision-makers. The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings come to mind immediately, as they boast strong management teams.

It's no revelation that there is a lot of work to be done in Toronto with the Leafs. There are gaping holes in the roster that will likely get bigger with potential offseason trades looming.

Let's take a look at five possible candidates for GM in Toronto.

Mike Babcock

James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

While it's a long shot, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Mike Babcock could join the Leafs as both head coach and general manager. Babcock is a smart man and a proven winner at every level in the game.

The Leafs could use another strong personality who can back up his words with success. Babcock would get instant respect, and the team culture would improve immediately.

The current Detroit Red Wings bench boss is a gifted communicator who knows the on-ice game as well as anyone. His teams play a high-possession game and make opponents chase the puck.

If he's available this summer, expect a league-wide rush to add Babcock to the payroll.

Sean Burke

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Sean Burke is likely best known for his play as a goaltender, but he's also been a part of some modest successes with the Arizona Coyotes as the goaltending coach and assistant to the general manager.

He has helped goaltender Mike Smith play the best hockey of his career. He also had his hands all over the resurrection of Devan Dubnyk. The former Edmonton Oilers starter may be on the verge of a lucrative payday thanks to his Vezina-worthy play in Arizona and with the Minnesota Wild in 2014-15.

Burke seems bright, opinionated and has played the game at the highest level. He could get a long look for the position.

Peter Chiarelli

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Peter Chiarelli has been at the helm of one of the Maple Leafs' most bitter rivals, but he's available now with his recent firing. He's cerebral and calculating. It's what you want in an NHL GM.

Chiarelli guided the Boston Bruins to nearly 400 wins in his nine seasons. The team played for the Stanley Cup twice and won it in 2011.

He has proved he can build a winner, and the ninth-place finish in 2014-15 was far from a disaster. Cap issues and injuries were the biggest factors in the Bruins missing the playoffs this year.

If Shanahan is looking to hand over a lot of control, Chiarelli might be his man. The Harvard-educated Chiarelli knows the Atlantic Division as well as anyone.

Jason Botterill

DON HEUPEL/Associated Press

Jason Botterill could be a real X-factor in all of this. He's bright, played the game and has an MBA. It's a good pedigree, and he's been associated with one of the best franchises in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Botterill could be a good fit with the team Shanahan is building. It's clear he trusts Kyle Dubas, who is serving in an interim GM role despite his relative youth and inexperience.

Botterill has even more experience than Dubas, and as a former Penguins capologist, he understands the financial intricacies all teams face.

Botterill would be an interesting hire for the Leafs. Don't be surprised to hear his name mentioned regularly in the coming weeks.

Kyle Dubas

Kyle Dubas is not yet 30 years of age and has been an assistant GM for one year. Based on his hiring, that's not going to necessarily faze Brendan Shanahan in considering him for the job permanently.

Dubas had great success in the OHL, and it's obvious he has earned Shanahan's trust. If Shanahan wants to retain some more day-to-day power, hiring Dubas makes sense.

This would allow Dubas to continue to learn, capitalize on what he already knows and allow Shanahan to keep a closer eye on his hire. If Shanahan brings in Chiarelli or Babcock, for instance, it is highly doubtful he'd be as hands-on with those two and their levels of experience. 

Hiring Dubas permanently would be a surprise, but the club has to change the way it's done things in the past. Leafs fans know all too well that it certainly hasn't worked.

All stats can be found on NHL.com unless noted otherwise.