Leafs make controversial hiring in GM search

The offseason hasn't even begun yet and already the Toronto Maple Leafs are stumbling through their search for a new GM.

When Brad Treliving was dismissed as the Leafs' GM late last month, the team's CEO Keith Pelley informed fans that he'd be performing an exhaustive search that would extend into the offseason. Today, Leafs insider Luke Fox reported that the team has hired controversial head-hunter Neil Glasberg to assist in their GM search.

Big deal, right? Plenty of large corporations use head-hunters to help them fill big positions. Well... let's just say that Glasberg has a history and some allegations against him.

Most notably, Glasberg and his agency have been accused of exploiting a conflict of interest in the past when they've been hired by the likes of the Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers. Because, while it's true that Glasberg has consulted team's on their executive and coaching hirings in the past, it's important to note that his main business is representing NHL executives and coaches. And wouldn't you know it... the people that he recommends for the job are often his own clients.

“How could there not be a conflict of interest? This guy has skin in the game on who gets hired where, either directly or indirectly,” one current NHL coach said to insider Frank Seravalli. “Let’s say a person gets hired who isn’t a Glasberg client. Will he be pressured at some point to hire one of his guys?”

“There’s a reason why the NHLPA has a rule in place where agents are not allowed to represent both players and coaches or managers,” another current NHL coach told Seravalli. “You can’t sit on both sides of the table. That’s not right.”

In effect, Glasberg is double, or even triple, dipping... as George Costanza was once famously caught doing.

That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip...