The decision of Kelly McCrimmon was finally made on Monday, as the Brandon Wheat Kings Owner/GM/Coach decided to stay with the Western Hockey League club for the 2015-16 season instead of joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in a significant management role.
“I have made the decision to remain with the Wheat Kings,… McCrimmon said in a press release. “I was honored to have been considered for a position with the Maple Leafs. It would have been a tremendous opportunity. With our team expected to contend this season, I felt I owed it to the group to stay here and try to help us take the next step.…
McCrimmon will have a lot on his plate in the next 12 months, heading up the coaching staff for Hockey Canada for the upcoming Ivan Hlinka under-18 tournament this August and with Brandon expected to be in contention for a Memorial Cup bid next spring, but may entertain NHL options next spring according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
As for the Leafs, McCrimmon’s decision does not affect the club in the short term, as Mark Hunter will handle the draft responsibilities and Kyle Dubas represents the club at the GM meetings in Las Vegas and fields trade inquiries from interested teams.
Team President Brendan Shanahan is likely to address the club’s vacant GM position after July 1.
It is possible that Dubas, who has the confidence of Shanahan could be promoted to the top spot, but all indications are that the club wants to add someone with NHL connections and experience, like Los Angeles Kings VP of Hockey Operations Mike Futa.
The Toronto native was given permission to interview with the Leafs last month and Kings GM Dean Lombardi balked at the possibility of Futa leaving the organization, but it still remains an open question whether he will be heading home after this week’s draft and the onset of free agency next week.
Bringing Futa to Toronto would undoubtedly cost the Leafs a compensatory draft pick, but that could be a small price to pay for the man given a lot of credit for drafting players like Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson.
*******
The Maple Leafs will be taking a tour of the Atlantic Division in their 2015-16 exhibition schedule, as the club announced they will play eight pre-season games against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.
Toronto will with a pair of split-squad game against the Senators in Toronto and Ottawa on September 21 and will conclude with a home-and-home series with Mike Babcock’s former team, the Detroit Red Wings on Fri, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd.
Mon., Sept. 21 Ottawa Air Canada Center 7:30 pm (split) at Ottawa Canadian Tire Center 7:30 pm (split) Tues., Sept. 22 at Montreal Bell Center 7:30 pm Fri., Sept. 25 Buffalo Air Canada Center 7:30 pm Sat. Sept. 26 Montreal Air Canada Center 7:30 pm Tues., Sept. 29 at Buffalo First Niagara Center 7 pm Fri., Oct. 2 at Detroit Joe Louis Arena 7:30 pm Sat., Oct. 3 Detroit Air Canada Center 7 pm
*******
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Leafs are close to coming to terms on NCAA prospect Zach Hyman, whose rights were acquired from the Florida Panthers last week. The 23-year-old University of Michigan product is eligible to sign a two-year entry-level deal. LeBrun also indicates that Toronto is talking contract with RFA defensemen Petter Granberg and Tim Erixon.
The 22-year-old Granberg was expected to challenge for a spot on the Leafs blueline at training camp, but suffered a torn Achilles in off-season workouts that will keep the big Swede out at least four months.
The well-travelled 24-year-old Erixon was claimed by the Leafs off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks in early March and provides the club an option to play in the NHL next season while young defensemen like Viktor Loov, Tom Nilsson, Stuart Percy, Matt Finn and Rinat Valiev to gain experience with the AHL Marlies.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.