Report: Leafs can't come to terms with top GM target

The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially received permission to interview Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta for the Leafs' vacant general manager position.

From NHL insider Pierre LeBrun earlier today for The Athletic:

Which is why it’s no surprise, according to league sources, that both the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs have asked and received permission from the Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta, whose name has been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market. As head of analytics for the Cup champs, his background fits a big part of the profile for both the Devils and Leafs.

Mehta is an interesting candidate, to say the least.

He was hired by the Panthers in 2020 as Vice President of Hockey Strategy and Intelligence, and was promoted to Head of Analytics in 2023. He previously worked as an employee and and a consultant with the Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals, as well as a number of Major League Baseball teams.

Prior to working in sports analytics, Mehta was a professional poker player who co-authored several best selling books on high stakes no limit Texas hold 'em poker.

It remains to be seen what happens between the Leafs and Mehta, but what we do know now is that longtime St. Louis Blues executive Doug Armstrong will not be in the fold.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed today that, "it doesn't seem like the timing is right for the Blues and the Maple Leafs for Doug Armstrong."

So... scratch that name off the list.