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Maple Leafs hire Brad Treliving as new general manager

Treliving was a frontrunner to land the coveted job right from the beginning of the Leafs' search for a new GM.

Nearly two weeks after parting ways with Kyle Dubas, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brad Treliving as the 18th general manger in franchise history on Wednesday.

The news comes as no surprise, as Treliving's name surfaced as the consensus favourite to land the position since pretty much Day 1.

Several potential candidates were floated to replace Dubas since the day of his departure, but Treliving emerged as an early frontrunner for the position, with insiders like TSN's Darren Dreger, Bally Sports' Andy Strickland, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and others claiming Treliving had the inside track on one of the most coveted front-office jobs in hockey.

"I am very excited and honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as General Manager," Treliving said in a release. "I'm thrilled to join an Original Six team and recognize how much the Maple Leafs mean to this community. This is a very exciting day for my family and I."

Brad Treliving is the new general manager of the Maple Leafs. (Getty)
Brad Treliving is the new general manager of the Maple Leafs. (Getty) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Treliving held the Flames GM job from 2014 to 2023, with Calgary making the postseason in five of his nine seasons. But like his new squad, Calgary never made it past the second round during that time. He mutually parted ways with the organization in April after the Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs. The Penticton, B.C., native also previously served as an assistant general manager with the Arizona Coyotes.

"I'm very pleased to welcome Brad into the Maple Leafs organization," team president Brendan Shanahan said. "Brad brings a wealth of knowledge from his years of experience as a general manager and hockey executive in Calgary, Arizona and beyond.

"He has earned tremendous respect amongst his peers throughout his years in the NHL and has built excellent relationships at all levels within the game. We are confident that Brad's leadership and strategic vision will elevate the Maple Leafs in our continued pursuit of a championship."

Most recently, Treliving has shown no fear when it comes to "swing-for-the-fences" type deals, salvaging Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers after star Matthew Tkachuk made it clear he wouldn't return to the Flames as a restricted free agent.

We'll see what the 53-year-old has up his sleeve with fans craving a shakeup in Toronto and star centre Auston Matthews hoping for an extension before July 1.

Dubas, meanwhile, is reportedly mulling over an offer to join the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.