LAS VEGAS — The Toronto Maple Leafs could enter next season without hiring a general manager.
Brendan Shanahan says his search has been put on the back burner with the draft and free agency approaching, and won’t guarantee that an external candidate will be brought in later on this summer.
“Anything’s possible,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “I don’t want to make any promises. It’s ongoing.”
The Maple Leafs president has put assistant GM Kyle Dubas in charge of negotiations with agents and other teams over the next few weeks. Mark Hunter, the director of player personnel, will oversee the draft.
The team’s front office also includes capologist Brandon Pridham and senior advisor Cliff Fletcher. They’re basically doing the job by committee, with Shanahan holding final say on hockey decisions.
“(The GM search) is ongoing, but I also think it had to take a little bit of a back seat once we get this close to the draft and free agency,” said Shanahan. “I said I was comfortable going into this with the group that we have. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
Shanahan attended a meeting of NHL team presidents at the Bellagio Hotel on Tuesday morning, where it was announced that next year’s salary cap will be set at $71.4-million.
He wouldn’t commit to the Leafs continuing to be a cap team — “Possibly,” he said when asked by Sportsnet — but seemed pleased after learning that there would be a $2.4-million jump from last year.
“I think the league did a really good job of preparing all of the teams for where it could end up,” said Shanahan. “It wasn’t a very big surprise. Some people probably projected it might even be a little bit lower.
“I think it’s just nice to know the number.”
