Brendan Shanahan could turn to old friend as Dubas replacement

The Toronto Maple Leafs are clearly in a transitional period after it was announced by team president Brendan Shanahan that they would not be retaining the services of now-former general manager Kyle Dubas after five years on the job but only a single playoff series victory. 

There has been plenty of speculation as to who the Leafs would be bringing aboard, a move that Shanahan stated during his press conference announcing the Dubas termination that he'd like to have done much sooner than later. And among the names that have stood out as potential replacements include a figure who would represent a reunion of sorts with Shanahan. 

Jim Nill, who is currently the general manager of the Dallas Stars who just had their season end last night at the hands of the Vegas Golden Nights in the Western Conference Final, certainly knows Shanahan well. After all, Nill and Shanahan were both part of the Detroit Red Wings teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002, with Nill serving as assistant general manager.

According to former Maple Leafs defenseman and current analyst Carlo Colaiacovo during an appearance on the TSN 1050 radio show “First Up” with Aaron Korolnek, Nill could be an candidate for Shanahan to consider: 

Nill, who was recently a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, remains under contract with Dallas.